college

American  

[kol-ij] / ˈkɒl ɪdʒ /

noun

colleges plural

1. an institution of higher learning, especially one providing a general or liberal arts education rather than technical or professional training.

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.

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college British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• postcollege
  noun
• precollege
  noun
• subcollege
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• colleges
  plural

Etymology

Origin of college

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; cf. colleague

Explanation

In the US, people pursuing education after high school go to college––spending either two or four years earning an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree. Many colleges are housed within universities. College derives from the Latin collegium 'partnership, association.' While a university offers many programs leading to graduate degrees beyond a bachelor's degree, a college is undergraduate only. So if you want to pursue becoming a lawyer, a doctor, or a college professor, chances are college is just a weigh station on your route to graduate school.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

college colleges

Ironically, Chris Simms, Florio’s podcast co-host and a close friend and former college teammate of the 49ers coach, provided details about Shanahan’s injuries and his family’s reaction.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

But for liberals and conservatives alike, there were other aims, too, including a high school and maybe even college degree, and a stable job to follow it.

From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026

At Auburn, he had smashed college records set by the likes of Tiger Woods.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Kelsey now plans to study animal care at college after her GCSEs, before pursuing a career as an animal behaviourist.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

“But we have to move on with our lives. The girls must get ready for college now, and I have to go back to work.”

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

An independent review on antisemitism in schools and colleges in England is due to report to the government in the autumn.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

According to the most recent data, the MBacc has been rolled out across 101 secondary schools and colleges in Greater Manchester - about 40% of the total.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

These efforts were to be aimed at historically black colleges or universities, tribal higher educational institutions and “minority-serving institutions.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

Yours does not include the most expensive colleges, despite your daughter’s wish to play and study at the best.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

I meet Mr. Ingman after school every Thursday so he can help me prepare for the ACTs and apply to colleges.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez