collate

American  

[kuh-layt, koh-, ko-, koh-layt, kol-ayt] / kəˈleɪt, koʊ-, kɒ-, ˈkoʊ leɪt, ˈkɒl eɪt /

verb (used with object)

• collates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• collated,
  past participle,  past
• collating
  present participle

1. to gather or arrange in their proper sequence (the pages of a report, the sheets of a book, the pages of several sets of copies, etc.).

2. Bookbinding. to verify the arrangement of (the gathered sheets of a book), usually by inspecting the signature at the foot of the first page of each sheet or the mark printed on the back of each sheet or on the spine of each signature.

3. to compare (texts, statements, etc.) in order to note points of agreement or disagreement.

4. Bibliography. to verify the number and order of the sheets of (a volume) as a means of determining its completeness.

5. Computers. to merge (sequenced data from two or more data sets or files) to produce a new sequenced data set or file.

6. Ecclesiastical. to present by collation, as to a benefice.

---

collate British  

/ kɒˈleɪt, kə- /

verb

1. to examine and compare (texts, statements, etc) in order to note points of agreement and disagreement

2. (in library work) to check the number and order of (the pages of a book)

3. bookbinding

   1. to check the sequence of (the sections of a book) after gathering

   2. a nontechnical word for gather

4. (often foll by to) Christianity to appoint (an incumbent) to a benefice

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• collator
  noun
• collatable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• collating
  present
• collated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• collate
  simple
• collates
  simple
• have collated
  perfect
• has collated
  perfect
• am collating
  progressive
• are collating
  progressive
• is collating
  progressive
• have been collating
  perfect progressive
• has been collating
  perfect progressive

Past

• collated
  simple
• had collated
  perfect
• was collating
  progressive
• were collating
  progressive
• had been collating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will collate
  simple
• will have collated
  perfect
• will be collating
  progressive
• will have been collating
  perfect progressive

---

Etymology

Origin of collate

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin collātus “borne together,” past participle of conferre “to bear together,” from con- con- + ferre “to bear, bring, carry”; for the suppletive element -lātus, earlier tlātus (unrecorded), see also thole ², tolerate

---

Explanation

Although the verb collate specifically means to put pages in a correct order, the word can be used more generally to mean to put anything into the proper sequence. Collating can mean the mindless job of putting papers in order before stapling them, or it can mean the high-brow analytical job of critically comparing multiple texts. Both usually involve paper, only the latter involves higher-order thinking. "The genealogists collated data from several sources, which made them realize, based on the dates, that Henry the VIII could not have been on the family tree."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

collate collates collated collating

But if AI can collate and analyze data to capture individual preferences at scale we may no longer need the assumption of the rational actor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026

The Saudi authorities, I am told, are currently working flat out to collate everything they have on the Magdeburg market suspect, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, and to share it with Germany's ongoing investigation "in every way possible".

From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2024

On that day, I followed Nikki’s careful instructions to type and collate the lines of poetry I’d scrawled in composition books and notepads for years and leave the rest to her.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2024

“We need to have data and to collate our findings from these countries to help build a picture of their modus operandi,” said Mr Kaya.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2024

There are at least four columns filled with bank managers, accountants, loan officers, cotton collate operators.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

All Flock did was come up with a very user-friendly system that collates all the information quickly, with good search options.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

The complex, diverse ecosystem created by European reef-building oysters has collapsed, according to the recent assessment we submitted to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which collates the statuses of ecosystems and species.

From Salon ● Jan. 6, 2025

The other pieces of paper include notes and thoughts, which Servais collects and collates over the offseason.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 20, 2024

Eric Floehr is founder of ForecastWatch, a US company that analyses and collates the performance of weather providers, including accuracy measures.

From BBC ● Dec. 3, 2023

After it has been sawed, or scratched, the book goes to a girl who collates it—that is, examines it thoroughly, signature by signature, and makes sure that everything is in its right place.

From The Building of a Book A Series of Practical Articles Written by Experts in the Various Departments of Book Making and Distributing by Frederick H. Hitchcock

Dramatic footage posted online late Wednesday and collated by DHA showed a line of parked cars in the northern Sariyer district being pushed into the torrent of muddy water, where they were swept away.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

While similar figures for the UK aren't collated, Dawson fears a shrinking television industry in the UK will make it harder for commissioners to make LGBTQ+ stories.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

Analysts expected an underlying profit around $12.66 billion, according to a consensus estimate collated by Visible Alpha.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

On a fold-up bed by the window, 59-year-old Xu Rulin from Jiangxi province pulls his carefully collated evidence out of a red plastic shopping bag.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

He worked the machine and Russo carried the copies to Sinay’s desk, where he collated the pages into neat stacks.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

A central part of its work has been to gather testimony from Sami people about their experiences, collating some 300 interviews and written accounts.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

The BEA collects little data firsthand, instead collating and publishing numbers gathered by other agencies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 7, 2026

“My mother included us in everything that she did, and I mean everything. I remember as a child collating pages for her second book. It was wonderful.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2025

They items were to be gathered at a secret location for photographing and collating before being passed on, the authority said.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025

Harker has gone back, and is again collating his material.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---