silo
n. countablen. a tall tower used for storing grain on a farm. In business, it also describes a system or department that works alone and does not share information with others.
n. a tall, cylindrical structure used for bulk storage of grain or fermented animal feed. In organizational contexts, refers to a functional unit or department that operates in isolation from others, often hindering communication.
The farm has a large silver silo for storing corn.
The marketing team is stuck in a silo and rarely talks to the product developers.
Breaking down corporate silos is essential for fostering innovation, as it allows diverse teams to share data and insights that would otherwise remain trapped within departmental boundaries.
From Spanish silo, of unclear origin. See Spanish silo for more.
Often used metaphorically in business and computing to describe isolated systems or teams.