collocation

noun

col·lo·ca·tion | \ ˌkä-lə-ˈkā-shən

Definition of collocation

: the act or result of placing or arranging together the collocation of atoms specifically : a noticeable arrangement or conjoining of linguistic elements (such as words) "To save time" and "make the bed" are common collocations.

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Examples of collocation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The risk of these writers’ style, with their short chapters and darting insights, is randomness, and sometimes this book, whatever its thematic claims, seems to consist of what has come under the author’s eye, an arbitrary collocation. — Charles Finch, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2022

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