Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

colliery

noun col·liery \ ˈkäl-yə-rē \

Definition of colliery

plural collieries
: a coal mine and its connected buildings

See colliery defined for English-language learners

See colliery defined for kids

First Known Use of colliery

1635

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Other Mining and Drilling Terms

ore, trepan, wildcat

COLLIERY Defined for English Language Learners

colliery

noun

Definition of colliery for English Language Learners

  • : a coal mine and the buildings that are near it

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up colliery? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

gaffer

play

a lighting electrician on a movie set

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  2. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  3. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

  4. emolument 'the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites'

  5. troll 'to harass, criticize, or antagonize especially by disparaging or mocking public statements'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

colliery

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

  • rubens-painting
  • Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games