community college

American  

noun

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

---

community college British  

noun

1. another term for village college

2. a nonresidential college offering two-year courses of study

3. an adult education college with trade classes

---

Etymology

Origin of community college

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50

Example Sentences

“It was like old home week,” said Shana Hirsch, an English instructor at a community college in the southeastern part of the state.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

The Iranian-born executive who moved to the U.S. at the age of 9 and flunked out of school with just a 1.9 GPA before attending community college has been through worse.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

He grew up in Sacramento, where both his parents were professors at a local community college, and started working at a climbing gym at 14, he wrote in a 2018 column in WealthSimple Magazine.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026

“We have pride in the fact we’re called a volunteer legislature. We don’t make money, we just don’t. It is about service,” says GOP Senate President Sharon Carson, who teaches at a community college.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 21, 2026

So on my way to work, I stopped at the community college and told them I needed to do something with my life.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King