collection

noun col·lec·tion \ kə-ˈlek-shən \

|Updated on: 7 Jun 2018

Examples: collection in a Sentence

Definition of collection

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

See collection defined for English-language learners

See collection defined for kids

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 of collection from the Web

Kahlo later sent the painting to the Soviet Union to join the collection at Moscow’s Museum of Western Art.

— julissa treviño, Smithsonian, "Expert Says He Found New Clues Into Location of Long-Lost Frida Kahlo Painting," 2 June 2018
This collection of seven small islands, accessible only by boat, is one of the most remote national parks.

— the editors, Outside Online, "North America's 16 Best, Most Overlooked Beaches," 1 June 2018
The collections are seasonless capsules and pieces ranging in price from $60 to $350.

— brooke bobb, Vogue, "This Affordable U.K. Brand Has Your Summer 9-to-5 Wardrobe Covered," 1 June 2018
The collection is full of design documents and historical notes, as well as noting the changes made between releases.

— joshua rivera, GQ, "Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection," 1 June 2018
The collection of restaurants sits inside a historic Loyola Avenue building with a rich history.

— ann maloney, NOLA.com, "Pythian Market dishes out food from around the world: Opening alert," 1 June 2018
Perhaps my favorite essay in the collection is by cookbook author Caroline Randall Williams.

— sarah fritsche, San Francisco Chronicle, "Edna Lewis: Lasting impact of a culinary legend," 1 June 2018
The paisley pink Telecaster signed by Prince in 1997 is among the most noteworthy items in the collection.

— james b. nelson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Guitar autographed by Prince, mic signed by Cher among items in Bradley Center online sale," 1 June 2018
This song is also included in the upcoming collection.

— billboard japan, Billboard, "Japanese Rapper AK-69 Prepping Greatest-Hits Collection of Collaborations," 1 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'collection.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of collection

see ²collect

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

collection Synonyms

Synonyms

array, assemblage, band, bank, batch, battery, block, bunch, clot, clump, cluster, clutch, constellation, group, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, muster, package, parcel, passel, set, suite;

Near Antonyms

entity, item, single, unit;

agglomeration, assortment, hodgepodge, jumble, miscellany, mixture, odds and ends, sundries, variety;

cycle, run, series, suit;

Phrases

the whole kit and caboodle;

COLLECTION Defined for English Language Learners

collection

noun

Definition of collection for English Language Learners

: the act or process of getting things from different places and bringing them together
: a group of interesting or beautiful objects brought together in order to show or study them or as a hobby
: a request for money in order to help people or to pay for something important; also : the money collected in this way