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

Keep scrolling to shop for more top picks from Joanna Gaines’ holiday collection at Target. —Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 13 Dec. 2025

For those who are too big to sit on Santa's lap, downtown Louisville is brimming with a collection of holiday activities, entertainment and holiday pop-up bars for the over 21 crowd. —Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025

The queen consort added her signature Van Cleef & Arpels bracelets and wore a special brooch from the jewelry company’s Lucky Animals collection. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 12 Dec. 2025

The collection has a variety of scented picks, from tealights starting at $14 to candles in multiple sizes, reed diffusers, and even a room spray to fill their whole home with their favorite aromas. —Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025

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