collaborator
gb/kəlˈæbɚˌeɪtɚ/ us/kəlˈæbɚˌeɪtɚ/
B2
English
~ 9900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
person who works with others
A person who works with other people on the same project or goal.
Usage pattern:
a collaborator [with someone] [on something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "collaborator" when they only mean someone in the same company, where "colleague" or "co-worker" is more natural. "Collaborator" usually suggests someone who works actively with you on a specific project. Another mistake is omitting the prepositions: say "a collaborator with me on the project" or "a collaborator on the project", not just "a collaborator the project".
Synonyms
partner (Suggests a more equal, often long-term relationship, sometimes in business or creative work.)
|
colleague (Focuses on someone you work with in the same organization, not always on the same project.)
|
co-worker (Informal term for someone who works at the same place, without the idea of working closely together on one project.)
Antonyms
opponent (Someone who works against you or competes with you instead of working with you.)
|
rival (Someone who is in competition with you rather than cooperating on the same goal.)
Collocations
close collaborator
|long-time collaborator
|key collaborator
|research collaborator
|creative collaborator
|frequent collaborator
Themes
work
|teamwork
|business
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She has been a close collaborator on several successful research projects.
- The director thanked his long-time collaborators in his acceptance speech.
- Our team is looking for a collaborator with strong data-analysis skills.
- He is a frequent collaborator with that design studio on branding campaigns.
- The novelist found an ideal collaborator to help adapt the book into a screenplay.
Learner examples
- I need a collaborator to help me with this school project.
- He is my main collaborator on the new app.
- The artist worked with a collaborator to finish the painting.
- She is a good collaborator because she listens and shares ideas.
- We are looking for a new collaborator for our marketing team.
Noun
C1
entity
2
person who helps an occupying enemy
A person who helps an enemy group, especially when that enemy has taken control of their country.
Usage pattern:
a collaborator [with the enemy]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this meaning is strongly negative and connected with war or occupation. In everyday work situations, you should not call a co-worker a "collaborator" if there is any chance of confusion with this sense, especially in historical or political contexts. Also, this sense normally takes an object like "with the enemy" or a specific group, not just "collaborator" alone.
Synonyms
traitor (General word for someone who betrays their country, group, or friend; does not specifically imply cooperation with an occupying power.)
|
quisling (Formal and historical; refers specifically to someone who helps an enemy occupying their country.)
Antonyms
patriot (Someone who is loyal to their country and defends it instead of helping its enemies.)
|
resister (Someone who actively fights against an occupying power, the opposite of cooperating with it.)
Collocations
Nazi collaborator
|wartime collaborator
|enemy collaborator
|collaborator with the enemy
|accused collaborator
Themes
war
|politics
|history
|law
Examples
- After the war, the government put several known collaborators on trial.
- He was labeled a Nazi collaborator for helping the occupying forces.
- Villagers still remember who the collaborators were during the occupation.
- The regime relied on local collaborators to control the population.
- She denied being a collaborator with the enemy army, despite the documents.
Learner examples
- People called him a collaborator because he helped the enemy soldiers.
- After the war, collaborators were punished by the new government.
- A collaborator gives information to the enemy.
- Some collaborators worked with the enemy to get more power.
- She was afraid her neighbors would think she was a collaborator.
Grammar
Dictionary form
collaborator
IPA
GB/kəlˈæbɚˌeɪtɚ/
US/kəlˈæbɚˌeɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
col - lab - or - at (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lab)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: collaborator
- Plural: collaborators
Word family
Forms
collaborators
noun
Core family
Related words
collaboratively
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
uncollaborative
adjective
Advanced or less common
collaborationist
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.