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Definition of groupthink

groupthink

/ˈɡruːp.θɪŋk/
group · think
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groupthink Lexical Profile

groupthink Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that prioritizes consensus and harmony over critical evaluation, often resulting in poor or irrational decision-making.

Example

"The committee's failure to anticipate the financial crisis was largely blamed on a culture of groupthink that discouraged dissenting opinions."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

grouper
groupie
grouping
groupthink
groupwork
grouse
grout

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1952 by American journalist William H. Whyte Jr. by analogy with George Orwell's Newspeak term 'doublethink', and later popularized in social psychology by Irving Janis in 1972.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Groupthink. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/groupthink
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