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community college

American

noun

a nonresidential junior college established to serve a specific community and typically supported in part by local government funds.

community college British

noun

another term for village college
a nonresidential college offering two-year courses of study
an adult education college with trade classes

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of community college

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50

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.

Her accomplishments include leading a groundbreaking campaign to make the city’s community college tuition free.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Selivra spent part of his childhood in foster care and, as a teenager, was homeless and slept in his car for more than a year before enrolling in community college, he told The Times.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

She persevered and graduated from a high school special education program, then attempted community college.

From Salon • Apr. 29, 2026

The revenue will also support a budget that provides free community college and invests in housing, she added.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

Then she started working and going to school at the community college.

From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023