collection

noun

col·​lec·​tion kə-ˈlek-shən 

1

: the act or process of collecting

the collection of data

the collection of taxes

2

a

: something collected

especially : an accumulation of objects gathered for study, comparison, or exhibition or as a hobby

a collection of poems

a collection of photographs

a baseball card collection

b

: group, aggregate

a collection of symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, and joint pain

c

: a set of apparel designed for sale usually in a particular season

the designer's spring collection of dresses

Synonyms of collection

• library
• assemblage
• assortment
• repertoire

Examples of collection in a Sentence

a system of tax collection

The technology makes data collection easier.

There will be a trash collection this week.

The museum's collection is one of the best in the country.

We took up a collection for the school renovations.

Ten percent of the collection goes to the city's shelters for homeless people.

Recent Examples on the Web

Her brand-strategy background, paired with Ennismore’s hotel know-how (Luura is part of its Morgans Originals collection), makes for a pretty compelling combination. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026

But another collection of forces is beginning to converge - this time in our fields, global commodity markets and some of the world's most important agricultural trade routes. — Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

The $20,000 Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) Acquisition Prize will fund acquisitions for the institution’s collection and that of the Green Family Foundation Caribbean Cultural Institute. — News Desk, Artforum, 21 Aug. 2026

However, endorsers are generally only necessary if the primary borrower has an adverse credit history, like accounts in collections. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English colleccioun, collection, borrowed from Anglo-French collection, borrowed from Latin collēctiōn-, collēctiō "bringing together, accumulation," from colleg-, variant stem of colligere "to gather together, assemble, accumulate, pull (oneself) together" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at collect entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing collection

• sub-collection

Rhymes for collection

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• complexion
• confection
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• correction
• defection

Kids Definition

collection

noun

col·​lec·​tion kə-ˈlek-shən 

1

: the act or process of collecting

2

a

: something collected

especially : an accumulation of objects gathered for study, comparison, or exhibition or as a hobby

b

: set entry 2 sense 7

3

: a gathering of money

take up a collection