college

[ kol-ij ]

noun

1. an institution of higher learning, especially one providing a general or liberal arts education rather than technical or professional training. Compare university.
2. a constituent unit of a university, furnishing courses of instruction in the liberal arts and sciences, usually leading to a bachelor's degree.
3. an institution for vocational, technical, or professional instruction, as in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, or music, often a part of a university.
4. an endowed, self-governing association of scholars incorporated within a university, as at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England.
5. a similar corporation outside a university.
6. the building or buildings occupied by an institution of higher education.
7. the administrators, faculty, and students of a college.
8. (in Britain and Canada) a private secondary school.
9. an organized association of persons having certain powers and rights, and performing certain duties or engaged in a particular pursuit:

   The Electoral College formally selects the president.

10. a company; assemblage.
11. Also called collegium. a body of clergy living together on a foundation for religious service or similar activity.
12. British Slang. a prison.

college

/ ˈkɒlɪdʒ /

noun

1. an institution of higher education; part of a university
2. a school or an institution providing specialized courses or teaching

   a college of music

3. the building or buildings in which a college is housed
4. the staff and students of a college
5. an organized body of persons with specific rights and duties See also Sacred College

   an electoral college

6. a body of clerics living in community and supported by endowment
7. an obsolete slang word for prison

Other Words From

• post·college noun adjective
• pre·college noun adjective
• subcollege noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of college¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Middle French, from Latin collēgium, from col- col- ¹ + lēg-, variant stem of legere “to choose, gather, read” + -ium -ium; colleague

Word History and Origins

Origin of college¹

C14: from Latin collēgium company, society, band of associates, from collēga; see colleague

Example Sentences

Over her 27-year coaching career, Roberts has successfully transformed college programs, achieving complete turnarounds at Chico State, Pacific and Utah.

From Los Angeles Times

With plans to move from renting space at El Camino College in Torrance, Pebley says the initiative aims to create a space with the best resources for a successful team and coaching staff.

From Los Angeles Times

Chen is a research associate professor of chemistry at Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

From Science Daily

For my SCOTUSblog author page, I had a friend take my picture in front of the brick facade at the old National Capital YMCA, because I was a 22-year-old recent college graduate during the Great Recession, and needed the several hundred dollars it would have cost to get a professional headshot for rent.

From Slate

Lots of coaches who were spectacularly successful in college football have flopped in the NFL, among them Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier and Lou Holtz.

From Los Angeles Times