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

The newest in the collection have a studio layout with a lower-level living area and an upper-area bedroom, which then leads to a spacious bathroom with an outdoor shower. —Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2025

And even more reliable than a bunch of fun-size Snickers in your candy collection are the celebrities who take the occasion to go all-out for the holiday. —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025

The shoe brand owned by former Wall Street executive Brady Perrigo since 2020 had begun teasing a few pieces for key customers last year and the strong response prompted him to introduce a full menswear collection for fall. —Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025

More than 1,000 items and historical artifacts have been stolen in an early morning heist from a California museum's off-site collection, according to police. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 31 Oct. 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