collegian
Americannoun
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a student in, or a graduate of, a college.
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a member of a college.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of collegian
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin collēgiānus, equivalent to collēgi ( um ) college + -ānus -an
Explanation
A collegian is a student at a college or university. It could also be a former college student: in other words, an alumnus. Are you a high school student? If so, you're not a collegian, which is a word for someone who is enrolled at a college (or is a graduate). People who go to universities are also called collegians: the key part is that you're part of higher education. If you dropped out of college, you probably wouldn’t call yourself a collegian. This word suggests you are getting or have received a college degree.
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.
Beck went to Miami as a graduate transfer, and is currently a sixth-year collegian.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 24, 2026
That sense of duty, coupled with an opportunistic boldness, leads this thoughtful, socially skillful collegian down a path that, while setting him apart as a purposeful prodigy, eventually puts his carefully cultivated future at risk.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2024
Skenes set the SEC record for strikeouts in a season and was the first collegian in 12 years to fan more than 200.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 27, 2023
He’s finishing his sixth year as a collegian as the undisputed leader of a new-look Creighton team that overachieved after being picked eighth in the 11-team Big East.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 14, 2022
This tale of shoes Norwegian Is not for the collegian, But for such youths as do take pride In reading of a wondrous slide.
From Poems of James McIntyre by James McIntyre
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
