siloed: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal, Business, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “siloed” mean?
Isolated, separated, or compartmentalised within a restricted system, department, or group, preventing communication or integration with others.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Isolated, separated, or compartmentalised within a restricted system, department, or group, preventing communication or integration with others.
A metaphorical adjective (or past participle verb) describing a state where people, data, or systems operate in isolation, leading to inefficiency, lack of collaboration, or duplication of effort. The term originates from agricultural silos, which are tall, airtight towers for storing grain separately.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major difference in meaning or usage. Spelling conventions follow national norms (e.g., 'compartmentalised' vs. 'compartmentalized'). The term is equally common in corporate and organisational discourse in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical negative connotation of inefficiency and poor communication.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American business jargon, but widely used and understood in UK professional contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “siloed” in a Sentence
to be/get/become/remain siloedto silo (sth.)siloed + noun (e.g., data, teams)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “siloed” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The legacy IT systems have siloed our data for decades.
- We must avoid siloing our researchers into separate institutes.
American English
- The company's structure siloed the engineering and design teams.
- Outdated policies silo information that should be shared.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard) The departments worked siloedly, to their detriment.
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard) Information is stored siloedly across multiple platforms.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Criticising organisational structures where departments don't share information, e.g., 'The marketing and sales teams are too siloed.'
Academic
Describing fragmented research fields or non-integrated data sets, e.g., 'Knowledge remains siloed across disparate disciplines.'
Everyday
Rare. Might describe cliquish social groups or family members who don't communicate.
Technical
In IT, describing databases or software that cannot exchange data with other systems.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “siloed”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “siloed”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “siloed”
- Using it as a positive term (e.g., 'We need more siloed teams' – incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'syloed' or 'silowed'.
- Confusing with the literal adjective for physical silos (e.g., 'siloed grain' is ambiguous).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost exclusively used as a criticism. It describes a dysfunctional state of isolation that needs to be 'broken down' or 'overcome'.
It's a 20th-century metaphorical extension of the noun 'silo'. Its use in business and organisational language surged in the 1990s and 2000s.
They are close synonyms. 'Siloed' is more vivid and modern, strongly associated with corporate/organisational jargon and implies a more extreme, vertical isolation. 'Compartmentalised' is more general and can be used in more contexts (e.g., psychology, 'compartmentalised emotions').
Yes, though less common than the adjectival use. E.g., 'The management siloed the development team,' meaning they isolated or separated it from others.
Isolated, separated, or compartmentalised within a restricted system, department, or group, preventing communication or integration with others.
Siloed is usually formal, business, academic, technical in register.
Siloed: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪləʊd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪloʊd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[operating] in a silo”
- “silo mentality”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a farm SILO, a tall, isolated tower for grain. 'Siloed' information is just like that grain – stuck in one tall, separate container, unable to mix with grain from other silos.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANISATION/INFORMATION IS A FARM; DEPARTMENTS/DATA ARE GRAIN IN SEPARATE STORAGE TOWERS.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what is the PRIMARY negative consequence of having 'siloed' departments?