English Reference
Noun

collaborator

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /kəˈɫæbɝˌeɪtɝ/ UK /kəlˈæbɔːɹˌeɪtɐ/ col·lab·o·ra·tor UK spelling collaborator's, collaborator's

n.a person who works with others to achieve a goal or create something. You use this for people who share ideas on a project, like writing a book or starting a business.

n.a person who works jointly on an activity or project. In a historical context, it refers to an individual who cooperates with an enemy nation occupying their country.


SIMPLE

She is a frequent collaborator on my research projects.

CONTEXTUAL

The director thanked every collaborator who helped bring the complex stage production to life.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'on' for projects or 'with' for people.

It was led by QUT researcher Professor Adrian Barnett, from the School of Public Health and Social Work and Australian Centre for Health Services and Innovation (AusHSI), together with an international group of collaborators.

ScienceDaily· 16 Jul 2026

Researcher Zhe Zhu found that employees who see tools like ChatGPT and Gemini as helpful collaborators rather than job-stealing rivals tend to be more engaged, adaptable, and optimistic about their careers.

ScienceDaily· 25 May 2026

Common in science writing

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated