collage

noun

col·​lage kə-ˈläzh 

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 

kȯ-, 

kō-

noun

Synonyms of collage

• jumble
• medley
• variety
• assortment
• montage

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

So are three mural-sized collages that reflect his ongoing investigations into the legacies of colonialism. — Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

The first gallery presents Krasner’s collage works from the mid 1950s, when Pollock was at an artistic impasse and spiraling out of control. — John Yau, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Multitasking, collage, and fragmentation have long served as survival strategies for women saddled with domestic duties and harboring artistic ambitions. — Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026

The new space, occupying a compact 323 square feet at 30 Galerie de Montpensier across from the Jardin du Palais Royal, will open on October 18 with an exhibition of work by mixed-media collage artist Deborah Roberts. — News Desk, Artforum, 14 Oct. 2026

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

Rhymes for collage

• barrage
• corsage
• dressage
• garage
• massage
• mirage
• montage
• swaraj
• arbitrage
• camouflage
• entourage
• sabotage

Kids Definition

collage

noun

col·​lage kə-ˈläzh 

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"