collegian
Americannoun
-
a student in, or a graduate of, a college.
-
a member of a college.
noun
Other Word Forms
- postcollegian noun
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
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
Miller walked off the court for the final time as a collegian wiping her eyes and shared a long hug with Frese near center court.
From Washington Post • Mar. 27, 2023
The sixth-year collegian was shifted to his current position in 2020, when he was a junior with the Wolf Pack.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 16, 2022
"Just get me to the house," said the collegian, "and you can come straight away back in the cab," but beyond this he offered no explanations, and Brockway gave the order to the driver.
From A Romance in Transit by Lynde, Francis
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.
