compilation

American  

[kom-puh-ley-shuhn] / ˌkɒm pəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

• compilations
  plural

1. the act of compiling.

   the compilation of documents.

2. something compiled, as a reference book.

   Synonyms:

   assortment, assemblage, collection

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compilation British  

/ ˌkɒmpɪˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. something collected or compiled, such as a list, report, etc

2. the act or process of collecting or compiling

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• precompilation
  noun
• recompilation
  noun
• compilatory
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• compilations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of compilation

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin compīlatiōn-, stem of compīlātiō; equivalent to compile + -ation

Explanation

A compilation is a collection. You might have enough fascinating stories about compasses to publish your own compilation of the best. You'd have to find some other compass enthusiasts to buy it though. Coming from the 15th century Latin compilationem “that which is compiled,” a compilation is a grouping or anthology of similar items. A music compilation brings together different artists and songs on a playlist. One can gather essays on a similar topic to organize a compilation for a book. And as President Franklin D. Roosevelt noted, the Constitution itself is "the most marvelously elastic compilation of rules of government ever written.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

compilation compilations

So maybe it is not surprising then that in the compilation of the 20 most expensive transfers completed that only six were not to clubs in the English top flight.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

In the days since Parton’s death, commenters have flocked to the “Travelin’ Thru” music video, a compilation of pixels rendered in 240p, uploaded to an archaic version of YouTube some 19 years ago.

From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026

"There's enough stuff to go on forever with my music -- to do compilation albums, to do actually new and original stuff," she said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

Twenty years after the superb mezzo soprano’s death, Harmonia Mundi has reissued a compilation of her recordings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

I had a small collection of books that came with me to Forks, the shabbiest volume being a compilation of the works of Jane Austen.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

The second event, “Tuned In, Comped Out,” was about discovering music through compilations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

Wain didn’t design this film to fit into clip-farmed compilations on TikTok or even one-minute clips on YouTube.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

We bought compilations of the greatest matchups, watched The Ultimate Fighter, developed strong opinions on fighters, rankings, and preferred techniques.

From Slate ● Jun. 14, 2026

The book’s most edifying compilations recount the Soviet people’s unconquerable yearning to live, create and love freely, despite the daily menaces of a police state and deafening propaganda.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 16, 2025

I worked through the Old Testament next, then I read Dad’s books, which were mostly compilations of the speeches, letters and journals of the early Mormon prophets.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Related Words

• assortment
• collection