column

noun

col·​umn ˈkä-ləm 

also ˈkäl-yəm

1

a

: a vertical arrangement of items printed or written on a page

columns of numbers

b

: one of two or more vertical sections of a printed page separated by a rule or blank space

The news article takes up three columns.

c

: an accumulation arranged vertically : stack

columns of paint cans

d

: one in a usually regular series of newspaper or magazine articles

the gossip column

advice columns

2

: a supporting pillar

especially : one consisting of a usually round shaft, a capital, and a base

a colonnade of marble columns

3

a

: something resembling a column in form, position, or function

a column of water

columns of smoke

b

: a tube or cylinder in which a chromatographic separation takes place

4

: a long row (as of soldiers)

columns of troops

5

: one of the vertical lines of elements of a determinant or matrix

6

: a statistical category or grouping

put another game in the win column

columned

ˈkä-ləmd 

ˈkäl-yəmd

adjective

Illustration of column

• column 2

Synonyms of column

• line
• queue
• row
• string
• file

Examples of column in a Sentence

a facade with marble columns

Add the first column of numbers.

The article takes up three columns.

The error appears at the bottom of the second column.

She writes a weekly column for the paper.

Recent Examples on the Web

That advice expands on his Sunday night column for Club subscribers. —Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026

Your questions shaped this column. —Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026

Claire Danes sported a sleeveless, floor-length black gown with a column silhouette that had a white collar embellished with crystals. —Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 2 Mar. 2026

The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. —Joan Morris, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English columne, from Anglo-French columpne, from Latin columna, from columen top; akin to Latin collis hill — more at hill

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing column

• advice column
• agony column
• fifth column
• Lally column
• spinal column
• steering column
• the personal column
• vertebral column
• water column

Rhymes for column

• collum
• sholom
• slalom
• solemn

Kids Definition

column

noun

col·​umn ˈkäl-əm 

1

a

: a printed or written vertical arrangement of items

add together the column of numbers

b

: one of two or more vertical sections of a printed page separated by a rule or blank space

c

: a special regular feature in a newspaper or magazine

a sports column

2

: a supporting pillar

especially : one consisting of a usually round shaft, a capital, and a base

3

: something resembling a column in form, position, or function

a column of water

4

: a long row (as of soldiers)

columned adjective

Etymology

Middle English columne "column," from early French colompne (same meaning), from Latin columna "column" — related to colonel

Medical Definition

column

noun

col·​umn ˈkäl-əm 

: a longitudinal subdivision of the spinal cord that resembles a column or pillar: as

a

: any of the principal longitudinal subdivisions of gray matter or white matter in each lateral half of the spinal cord see dorsal horn, gray column, lateral column sense 1, ventral horn compare funiculus sense a

b

: any of a number of smaller bundles of spinal nerve fibers : fasciculus