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

Nearly all the attention on the Dominican Republic so far in the World Baseball Classic understandably has been on its offense — a prolific collection of some of Major League Baseball’s top hitters that has mashed its way to utter dominance in the tournament. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026

Ex Nihilo Lust in Paradise Eau de Parfum Bieber must have quite the collection of Ex Nihilo fragrances. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 14 Mar. 2026

As the bustling capital of Japan, Tokyo is home to hundreds of museums, ranging from august institutions with endless catalogs of national treasures to niche collections of curious obsessions (Looking at you, Meguro Parasitological Museum). —Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026

The On the Road scroll was part of Christie’s auction of Irsay’s collection of pop cultural and historically significant items. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 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