Is the word runners a collective noun?

Yes, "runners" can be considered a collective noun when it refers to a group of people who run, like a running team or a group of marathon runners.

Here's why:

* Collective nouns represent a group of individuals as a single unit. "Runners" can be used to refer to a group of people who share the activity of running.

* They often take singular verbs. For example: "The runners are warming up."

However, "runners" can also be a plural noun, referring to multiple individual people who run.

Example:

* Collective: "The runners all crossed the finish line together."

* Plural: "The runners each had their own pace."

The context will help you determine whether "runners" is being used as a collective noun or a plural noun.