Silo

As a Noun

1. A tall, cylindrical structure used to store grain, fodder, or other bulk materials (e.g., a farm silo).
2. An underground structure used to store and launch missiles (e.g., a missile silo).
3. A system, department, or organization that operates in isolation, limiting communication and collaboration (e.g., corporate silos).

As a Verb (Less Common)

1. To isolate something or someone from others (e.g., the team was siloed from the rest of the company).

Word History

The word silo comes from the Spanish silo, meaning “a pit for storing grain.” Originally used in agriculture, the term expanded to military and business contexts, symbolizing isolation or self-contained storage.

Examples

1. The farmer filled the silo with corn for the winter.
2. The government built underground missile silos during the Cold War.
3. Different departments working in silos can slow down company progress.
4. The IT team was siloed from the rest of the organization.

Synonyms

Storage, bunker, container, compartment, isolation

Related Words

Warehouse, depot, chamber, segregation, separation

Antonyms

Integration, connection, openness, collaboration, unity