A collective noun is a word that refers to a group of individuals or things as a single unit. For example, the term flock describes a group of birds, while team refers to a group of players working together. Collective nouns help simplify language by allowing us to talk about multiple entities without listing each one. These nouns can be used with singular or plural verbs, depending on the context. In American English, collective nouns are often treated as singular, as in "The team wins its game." In British English, they may be treated as plural, as in "The team are playing well."