noun

collaborator

kuh-LAB-uh-ray-ter/kəˈlæbəreɪtər/

Someone who works with others on a shared undertaking.

The researcher works beside a collaborator on an experiment at the laboratory bench.

East Asian woman researcher works jointly with colleague at a shared experiment bench.

Etymology

colLatinwith, together

+laborLatinto work

+atorLatinone who

The literal idea is a “co-worker,” someone joined with others in labor. That shared effort remains central to the sense of a person helping carry out a task or project.

In context

Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI)75:23

the two children were um taken under the wing of Levinsk's Polish colleague and collaborator Fedo Schlaminsky

On the Cusp: Ivan Levynskyi and Building the City of Lions

More examples

The study brings together collaborators from three universities.
She finds a collaborator to help design the community garden.
He thanks his longtime collaborator for her contributions to the album.

Forms

collaborator · collaborators

collaborate verb — To work together on a shared undertaking.

collaboration noun — The act of working together toward a goal.

Similar words

partner: Often suggests shared responsibility or ownership, not just joint work.
teammate: Usually belongs to an organized group pursuing a common goal.