Definition of college
1
: a body of clergy living together and supported by a foundation
2
: a building used for an educational or religious purpose
3a
: a self-governing constituent body of a university offering living quarters and sometimes instruction but not granting degrees
Balliol and Magdalen Colleges at Oxford
— called also residential college
b
: a preparatory or high school
c
: an independent institution of higher learning offering a course of general studies leading to a bachelor's degree
a liberal arts college
also
: a university division offering this
d
: a part of a university offering a specialized group of courses
the university's college of pharmacy
e
: an institution offering instruction usually in a professional, vocational, or technical field
business college an embalming college
5a
: a group of persons considered by law to be a unit
b
: a body of electors — compare electoral college
6
: the faculty, students, or administration of a college
The college was at the football game in force.
Buying Guide
Check out the best educational products selected by our Reviews team.
Test Your Vocabulary
Commonly Confused Words Quiz
-
- I went to the ______ store to buy a birthday card.

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share college
Time Traveler for college
The first known use of college was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century