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

The college student, however, had to have a chat with her dad about using her in his material now that she’s grown up. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 26 Apr. 2024

Far-right paints campus protests as terrorism As protests broke out on college campuses across the country, influencers and politicians on the far-right began to portray the protestors as violent, dangerous and intent on taking over the country. —Will Carless, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 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