colleague
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does colleague mean? A colleague is someone you work with or someone whoâs in the same profession as you, especially a peer within that profession. Colleague can be a synonym for coworker, which is someone who has the same employer as you. But it also used to refer to people who have different employers but who work in the same or a very similar profession, especially when they regularly interact or share knowledge. For example, two medical researchers who work for different universities but who collaborate to publish research findings would be called colleagues. Example: Sarah has received an outpouring of support from her fellow attorneys at the firm as well as many of her colleagues in the legal community.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of colleague
First recorded in 1515â25; from Middle French collegue, from Latin collÄga, equivalent to col- âwith, togetherâ ( see col- 1) + -lÄga, derivative of legere âto choose, gatherâ
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How does colleague compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A colleague is someone you work with at your job. When you are a teacher, the other teachers are your colleagues. When you work as a cashier at 7-11, the guy at the deli counter is your colleague as well. Your colleagues are usually people at the same level or rank as you are. You would not usually consider your boss to be a colleague. This noun is from French collègue, from Latin collega "a person chosen along with another," from the prefix com- "with" plus legare "to appoint as a deputy."
Vocabulary lists containing colleague
Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A Date That Will Live In Infamy" (1941)
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Vocabulary from "There Will Never Be an Age of Artificial Intimacy," by Sherry Turkle
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The best news for markets would be if the current status quo between the U.S. and China remained intact, according to my colleague Reshma Kapadia.
From Barron's ⢠May 14, 2026
The then Det Ch Insp John Caldwell stated that he became aware of the death of Katie Simpson after he was contacted for "advice" by a lower ranking colleague.
From BBC ⢠May 13, 2026
Kroszner, Warshâs former colleague, said that Warsh is used to criticism and wonât be shaken.
From MarketWatch ⢠May 13, 2026
In 2016, a colleague at NYU introduced me to documentary filmmakers developing a TV series about couples therapy.
From The Wall Street Journal ⢠May 12, 2026
âWhy didnât you tell me about your colleague at Central?â she asks.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Š Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American HeritageŽ Idioms Dictionary copyright Š 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
