collage

noun

col·​lage kə-ˈläzh How to pronounce collage (audio)
kȯ-,
kō-
1
a
: an artistic composition made of various materials (such as paper, cloth, or wood) glued on a surface
cut pictures from magazines to make a collage
b
: a creative work that resembles such a composition in incorporating various materials or elements
the album is a collage of several musical styles
2
: the art of making collages
an artist known for her use of collage
3
: hodgepodge
a collage of ideas
4
: a work (such as a film) having disparate scenes in rapid succession without transitions
collage transitive verb
collagist
kə-ˈlä-zhist How to pronounce collage (audio)
kȯ-
kō-
noun

Examples of collage in a Sentence

We made collages in art class. an artist known for her use of collage The album is a collage of several musical styles.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The exhibit features over 60 experimental works on paper, collage and mixed media from the 1940s to early 2000s, as well as pieces inspired by the Caribbean and Hamptons landscapes that informed the abstract expressionist painter’s brilliant brushwork. Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025 Other images in the issue include a white shell-like tray with gold interiors that holds an array of pearls with a bottle of Chanel No. 5 and a colored seashell, and a collage of lion prints, which is a subtle hint to the founder’s zodiac sign. Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 23 June 2025 On a wall near the restaurant's kitchen, Grise also hung a collage of black-and-white photos of Carmelo, his restaurant and his immigration papers from Ellis Island. Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 Representation and the Black Female Body Mutu’s broader practice spans sculpture, painting, film, collage, and installation, consistently returning to the politics of representation. Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for collage

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, gluing, from coller to glue, from colle glue, from Vulgar Latin *colla, from Greek kolla

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of collage was in 1919

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Collage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collage. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

collage

noun
col·​lage kə-ˈläzh How to pronounce collage (audio)
kȯ-,
kō-
: a work of art made by gluing pieces of different materials to a flat surface
Etymology

from French collage "gluing," from coller "to glue"

More from Merriam-Webster on collage

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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