collage

noun

col·​lage kə-ˈläzh 

kȯ-, 

kō-

1

a

: an artistic composition made of various materials (such as paper, cloth, or wood) glued on a surface

cut pictures from magazines to make a collage

b

: a creative work that resembles such a composition in incorporating various materials or elements

The album is a collage of several musical styles.

2

: the art of making collages

an artist known for her use of collage

3

: hodgepodge

a collage of ideas

4

: a work (such as a film) having disparate scenes in rapid succession without transitions

collage transitive verb

collagist

kə-ˈlä-zhist 

kȯ-, 

kō-

noun

Synonyms of collage

• jumble
• medley
• variety
• assortment
• montage

Examples of collage in a Sentence

We made collages in art class.

an artist known for her use of collage

The album is a collage of several musical styles.

Recent Examples on the Web

Through the gallery, the Shannons represent Kevin West, whose work has been show at Newfields Art Museum in Indianapolis and the Cincinnati Art Museum, fiber artist Sherry Shine, and collage artist Yolanda Ward. — Sheryl Nance-Nash, ARTnews.com, 6 July 2026

General interest in collage, crafting and pottery is also rising. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026

The posts all linked to an official press release on the restaurant's website, which included a lengthy artist's statement that detailed how the large, rectangular collage came together. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026

Then the doctors would bustle out to see their more appealing patients—the cheerily pregnant ones, whose deliveries constituted the bulk of their income and whose babies would be added to the collage of photos decorating their office walls. — Melanie Thernstrom, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, gluing, from coller to glue, from colle glue, from Vulgar Latin *colla, from Greek kolla

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for collage

• barrage
• corsage
• dressage
• garage
• massage
• mirage
• montage
• swaraj
• arbitrage
• camouflage
• entourage
• sabotage

Kids Definition

collage

noun

col·​lage kə-ˈläzh 

kȯ-, 

kō-

: a work of art made by gluing pieces of different materials to a flat surface

Etymology

from French collage "gluing," from coller "to glue"