groupthink: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Business, Critical
Quick answer
What does “groupthink” mean?
A psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony or conformity within a group results in irrational or dysfunctional decision-making, suppressing dissenting viewpoints.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony or conformity within a group results in irrational or dysfunctional decision-making, suppressing dissenting viewpoints.
A mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, where the members' striving for unanimity overrides their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action. It can also refer broadly to any uncritical, conformist mentality within an organization or society.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. The term is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties, strongly negative and associated with flawed, insular decision-making.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to its origins in American social psychology (Irving Janis, 1972), but firmly established in British English in academic, business, and journalistic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “groupthink” in a Sentence
[Subject] fell victim to groupthink.[Action/Policy] was a product of groupthink.There was a dangerous level of groupthink in [Organization].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “groupthink” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The committee seemed to be groupthinking its way to a disastrous conclusion.
- We mustn't allow ourselves to groupthink; I want honest critiques.
American English
- The team groupthought their way into a terrible product launch.
- He accused the panel of groupthinking rather than evaluating the evidence.
adverb
British English
- The decision was made groupthinkly, without proper debate. (Rare/Non-standard)
- They acted groupthink, all agreeing immediately. (Rare/Non-standard)
American English
- They proceeded groupthinkly, dismissing all warnings. (Rare/Non-standard)
- The department operates groupthink, which stifles innovation. (Rare/Non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The report highlighted a groupthink culture within the ministry.
- We need to break these groupthink tendencies.
American English
- The board's groupthink mentality led to a massive oversight.
- She warned against groupthink dynamics in the project.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to critique faulty corporate decision-making, often preceding major failures or lack of innovation.
Academic
A key term in social psychology, organizational behaviour, and political science to analyse flawed decision-making processes.
Everyday
Used critically to describe situations where friends, online communities, or local groups make poor decisions because no one speaks up.
Technical
Used with specific reference to Janis's eight symptoms (e.g., illusion of invulnerability, self-censorship, mindguards).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “groupthink”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “groupthink”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “groupthink”
- Using it as a positive term (e.g., 'We achieved great groupthink').
- Confusing it with 'brainstorming' or 'teamwork'.
- Spelling as two words ('group think').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, by definition. The term describes a pathological, dysfunctional process. Positive group cohesion or consensus reached through healthy debate is not groupthink.
Yes, though it's less common and considered informal or non-standard (back-formation). It means 'to engage in groupthink' (e.g., 'They groupthought their way into a crisis').
Teamwork is collaborative effort towards a common goal, ideally leveraging diverse skills. Groupthink is a specific failure mode of teamwork where the desire for consensus overrides critical evaluation, leading to poor decisions.
The term was popularised by American social psychologist Irving Janis in his 1972 book 'Victims of Groupthink', analysing foreign policy fiascos like the Bay of Pigs Invasion.
A psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony or conformity within a group results in irrational or dysfunctional decision-making, suppressing dissenting viewpoints.
Groupthink is usually formal, academic, business, critical in register.
Groupthink: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡruːpθɪŋk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡrupˌθɪŋk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Drinking the Kool-Aid (related concept of uncritical acceptance)”
- “Echo chamber (related concept reinforcing beliefs)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GROUP that only THINKS as one single mind, suppressing all other thoughts.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A CONTAINER (a closed group), THINKING IS A GROUP ACTIVITY (with enforced uniformity).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following scenarios BEST illustrates 'groupthink'?