collegial

/kəˈlidʒ(i)əl/

Other forms: collegially

Collegial is an adjective describing a work environment where responsibility and authority is shared equally by colleagues. You know you work in a collegial environment when your co-workers smile at you, and you don’t have to hide from your supervisor.

Sharing its origins with college and colleague, collegial has senses relating to both words. A collegial office describes the shared responsibility or congenial relationship of colleagues, meaning people who happily or pleasantly work together. The word collegial can also be a synonym for collegiate, describing something that is like or typical of colleges or colleges students. But no frat parties at the office, okay? That may be collegiate, but it doesn’t always lead to collegial behavior.

Definitions of collegial

1. adjective

   characterized by or having authority vested equally among colleagues
   “collegial harmony”

   “"a tendency to turn from collegial to one-man management"- Merle Fainsod”
2. adjective

   of or resembling or typical of a college or college students
   synonyms: collegiate