What does "college" mean?
An academic institution.; A specialized division of a university.
College
/ˈkɒlɪd͡ʒ/ name, noun
name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An academic institution.; A specialized division of a university.
- Grammar: college is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: academe, academia, academic division, academy.
- Useful contrasts: high school, noncollege, precollege.
- Usage evidence: Though his stay in Europe was transient, Spenser felt he had learned much more about interactions with other people from traveling than he did at college.
How to use "college"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "college" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "college" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "college" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "college" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "college" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "academe" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "college", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An academic institution.; A specialized division of a university.
"College of Engineering"
- 2 a complex of buildings in which an institution of higher education is housed wordnet
- 3 An academic institution.; An institution of higher education teaching undergraduates. US
"She's still in college"
- 4 the body of faculty and students of a college wordnet
- 5 An academic institution.; A university. Ireland, Philippines
Show 12 more definitions
- 6 an institution of higher education created to educate and grant degrees; often a part of a university wordnet
- 7 An academic institution.; A postsecondary institution that offers vocational training and/or associate's degrees. Canada
- 8 An academic institution.; A non-specialized, semi-autonomous division of a university, with its own faculty, departments, library, etc. UK
"Pembroke College, Cambridge"
- 9 An academic institution.; An institution of further education at an intermediate level; sixth form. UK
- 10 An academic institution.; An institution for adult education at a basic or intermediate level (teaching those of any age). UK
- 11 An academic institution.; A high school or secondary school. Australia, Ireland, New-Zealand, South-Africa, UK
"Eton College"
- 12 An academic institution.; A private (non-government) primary or high school. Australia
- 13 An academic institution.; A residential hall associated with a university, possibly having its own tutors. Australia
- 14 An academic institution.; A government high school, short for junior college. Singapore
- 15 An academic institution.; A bilingual school.
- 16 A group of people sharing common purposes or goals, especially ecclesiastics or professionals; a corporate group; a group of colleagues.
"Near-synonyms: society, association, academy"
- 17 An electoral college.
Proper Noun
- 1 A census-designated place in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, United States.
- 2 A township in Knox County, Ohio, United States, named for Kenyon College.
- 3 A township in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States; it borders onto the municipality of State College, Pennsylvania.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Though his stay in Europe was transient, Spenser felt he had learned much more about interactions with other people from traveling than he did at college."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "college"?
Common synonyms include: academe, academia, academic division, academy, alliance, alma mater.
How do you use "college" in a sentence?
Though his stay in Europe was transient, Spenser felt he had learned much more about interactions with other people from traveling than he did at college.
How do you pronounce "college"?
Pronounced /ˈkɒlɪd͡ʒ/.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-der.? Proto-Indo-European *legʰ-der.? Proto-Italic *lēks Latin lēx Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin lēgō Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂ Proto-Italic *-ā Latin -a Latin collēga Proto-Indo-European *-yós Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ium Latin collēgiumbor. Old French college Middle French collegebor. Middle English college English college From Middle English college, from Middle French college, from Old French college, from Latin collēgium. Doublet of collegium.