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

Members of The Center for Fiction enjoy invitations, discounts, access to our Library collection, and more. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

Dior said last week that Jonathan Anderson would present his resort collection in Shanghai on May 14, marking his first major moment in Asia since taking over as creative director last year. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

The country singer, 36, recently launched EDITED by Maren Morris, a new apparel collection created in partnership with Sam’s Club and Sunrise Brands. — Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026

The Fifth Avenue windows set the tone before guests even stepped inside, with stacks of books wrapped in jackets printed with patterns from the collection, alongside illustrations inspired by the same prints. — Donna Kim, Vogue, 27 Sep. 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