synergy

[sin-er-jee] /ˈsɪn ər dʒi/

noun, plural synergies.

the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc.; synergism.

Physiology, Medicine/Medical. the cooperative action of two or more muscles, nerves, or the like.

Biochemistry, Pharmacology. the cooperative action of two or more stimuli or drugs.

Origin

1650-60; < Neo-Latin synergia < Greek synergía, equivalent to synerg(ós) (see synergism) + -ia -y³

Related forms

synergic

[si-nur-jik] /sɪˈnɜr dʒɪk/ (Show IPA), adjective

Related Quotations

“Synergy is the creation of a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.“
—Ray French, Charlotte Rayner, Gary Rees, Sally Rumbles, et al., Organizational Behaviour (2008)

“A designed beauty of synergy is that it serves only to add, never subtract.“
—Barb Rententbach, Synergy (2009)

Examples from the web for synergy

For me, the secret was to find ways to create synergy in my life, rather than having lots of little unrelated things to do.
synergy between pathogen release and resource availability in plant invasion.
Negative synergy occurs when the sum of effects of the mixture is less than that of the individual components of the mix.
The real sticking point for any theory about a synergy between art and mental illness is explaining how the mechanism works.
It's the old marketing dream of synergy, turned into a closed loop of name-recognition feedback.
There clearly is a synergy between these two trends.
But this synergy play has produced less return than even the newspapers themselves.
Yet there is a synergy, though a subtler one, between the two issues.
However wrapped up in sonorous stuff about synergy, plenty of mergers begin with sheer executive boredom.
Culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy.

British Dictionary definitions for synergy

synergy

/ˈsɪnədʒɪ/

noun (pl) -gies

Also called synergism. the potential ability of individual organizations or groups to be more successful or productive as a result of a merger

another name for synergism (sense 1)

Derived Forms

synergic (sɪˈnɜːdʒɪk) adjective

Word Origin

C19: from New Latin synergia, from Greek sunergos; see synergism

Word Origin and History for synergy

1650s, "cooperation," from Modern Latin synergia, from Greek synergia "joint work, assistance, help," from synergos "working together," related to synergein "work together, help another in work," from syn- "together" (see syn-) + ergon "work" (see urge (v.)). Meaning "combined activities of a group" is from 1847.

synergy in Medicine

synergy syn·er·gy (sĭn'ər-jē)
n.
The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.