college

noun

col·​lege ˈkä-lij 

often attributive

1

: a body of clergy living together and supported by a foundation

2

: a building used for an educational or religious purpose

3

a

: a self-governing constituent body of a university offering living quarters and sometimes instruction but not granting degrees

Balliol and Magdalen Colleges at Oxford

called also residential college

b

: a preparatory or high school

c

: an independent institution of higher learning offering a course of general studies leading to a bachelor's degree

a liberal arts college

also : a university division offering this

d

: a part of a university offering a specialized group of courses

the university's college of pharmacy

e

: an institution offering instruction usually in a professional, vocational, or technical field

business college

an embalming college

4

: company, group

specifically : an organized body of persons engaged in a common pursuit or having common interests or duties

a college of cardinals serving as papal councillors and electors

5

a

: a group of persons considered by law to be a unit

b

: a body of electors compare electoral college

6

: the faculty, students, or administration of a college

The college was at the football game in force.

Synonyms

• association
• board
• brotherhood
• chamber
• club
• congress
• consortium
• council
• fellowship
• fraternity
• guild
• gild
• institute
• institution
• league
• order
• organization
• society
• sodality

Examples of college in a Sentence

She teaches art at a local college.

He graduated from one of the country's best colleges.

She attended a business college.

He attended college for several years, but didn't graduate.

She dropped out of college.

I went to Mount Holyoke College.

When I was a junior in college, I spent a semester in Spain.

the Edinburgh College of Art

the London College of Fashion

She is attending fashion college.

Recent Examples on the Web

Penn swimmer Lia Thomas speaks to her coach after winning the 500 meter freestyle during an NCAA college swimming meet with Harvard, Jan. 22, 2022. —Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 13 June 2024

Tim Spicer, 31, a college coach from Arlington, Virginia, who resides in Atlanta, Georgia. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 12 June 2024

While there is no official bed bug season, August through October often see an uptick in infestations as those summer tagalongs find new homes and head off to dorm rooms alongside college students. —John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 12 June 2024

The former college coach and longtime NFL safety has a pretty good star pupil to work with in fourth-year cornerback Pat Surtain II. —Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 12 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin collegium society, from collega colleague — more at colleague

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing college

• apply for college
• college/student deferment
• college try
• community college
• cow college
• electoral college
• give it the old college try
• junior college
• pre-college
• residential college
• sixth form college
• state college
• sub-college
• teachers college
• training college

Kids Definition

college

noun

col·​lege ˈkäl-ij 

1

: a building used for an educational or religious purpose

2

a

: a self-governing body of a university offering living quarters and instruction but not granting degrees

Balliol College at Oxford

b

: a school higher than a high school

c

: an independent institution offering a course of general studies leading to a bachelor's degree

also : a university division offering this

3

: an organized body of persons having common interests or duties

the college of cardinals