What does synergy mean and how is it used in a sentence? We’ll tell you. Read on to discover the meaning of synergy and more.

If you do a quick search for the worst marketing buzzwords on Google, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll come across synergy. In fact, according to a new poll, researchers found that the word synergy is one that many marketers simply can’t stand to hear.

So, what does this seemingly annoying word mean, and where did it come from? Read on to find out more about the word of the day — synergy!

What Is the Definition of Synergy?

According to any unabridged dictionaries of the English language, synergy is when multiple parties work together to perform one combined action.

Alternatively, synergy or synergism refers to a cooperative business action where a party can produce more than the sum of its parts would have been able to create.

It should be noted that the word of the day can be used in all sorts of contexts. To better understand this, we have listed a few examples for you below:

Medicine — Cooperation of multiple body parts, like nerves or muscles.

Food and Beverage — Ingredients in a beverage or dish working harmoniously with one another to create a delicious taste.

Medicine — The interaction of various drugs with each other or other stimuli.

In short, if one thing’s effect can magnify another’s, they would have synergy.

What Are Example Sentences Using Synergy?

To help you get better acquainted with the word synergy, we have included a few examples for you to review:

This questionnaire aims to ensure all parties are grouped with others with similar values so that they may hopefully all work in better harmony.

To put on the show, synergy between the sponsors and the organizers is needed.

As we move into the digital age and away from the more traditional means of communications, cable and phone companies have planned to work in synergy to appeal to the masses once again.

There is no way synergy between our two families’ stores could ever exist. We run a cheese store, and your family has run the local vegan restaurant for as long as anyone can remember.”

Many scientists believe that the naturally-occurring compounds found in the marijuana plant work together in synergy.

The designers and architects often engage in synergy to manufacture apartments for the poor.

Even though the soccer players had just met that morning, they worked in perfect synergy to win the game.

What Are Antonyms and Synonyms of Synergy?

Now that you understand what synergy means, let’s look at a few synonyms and antonyms, shall we?

Synonyms of synergy:

Combined effort
Collaboration
Partnerships
Synergistic effect
Joint effort
Working together
Synergism
Joint action
Cooperative action
Synergistic
Teamwork
Combined effect
Positive partnerships

Antonyms of synergy:

Separation
Severance
Disconnection
Independence
Quarreling
Friction
Hostility
Rivalry
Noncooperation
Disharmony
Insubordination
Revolt
Bellicosity
Split
Partition
Disunity

What Is the Etymology of Synergy?

It is nice to use etymology to get a clearer picture of a word’s meaning — and the etymology of synergy is no different.

By studying the origin of the word synergy, we can trace the roots of the word of the day back to the Greek word, sunergiā, which means cooperation. Synergy’s roots can also be linked to the Greek word sungery (sometimes spelled synergos). With its definition of “working together,” that’s no surprise.

By combining the Greek word for work, ergon, as well as the Greek word for “together,” we get the word synergy — this just so happens to be the same root that gives words like energy and ergonomic.

Fun Fact for the Reader: A close thesaurus synonym of synergy and buzzword you will often find in a corporate setting is the new Latin synergia, which has a nearly identical definition.

Recap

The short answer to the question we have gone over in great detail above is that the definition of synergy is simply working together with another; to create something bigger or greater than you would ever be able to achieve alone.

In other words, the concept of synergy is that the combined performance and value of two parties will be greater than the sum of the separate individual parts. Commonly used in the context of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), synergy is often the key driving force behind a merger.

We hope this guide has provided you with all the information needed to fully understand synergy. To discover more interesting words, check out our website, where you’ll also find grammar tools, helpful tips, and more.

Sources:

Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.