college
noun
col·lege ˈkä-lij 
often attributive
1
: a body of clergy living together and supported by a foundation
2
: a building used for an educational or religious purpose
3
a
: a self-governing constituent body of a university offering living quarters and sometimes instruction but not granting degrees
Balliol and Magdalen Colleges at Oxford
called also residential college
b
: a preparatory or high school
c
: an independent institution of higher learning offering a course of general studies leading to a bachelor's degree
a liberal arts college
also : a university division offering this
d
: a part of a university offering a specialized group of courses
the university's college of pharmacy
e
: an institution offering instruction usually in a professional, vocational, or technical field
business college
an embalming college
4
: company, group
specifically : an organized body of persons engaged in a common pursuit or having common interests or duties
a college of cardinals serving as papal councillors and electors
5
a
: a group of persons considered by law to be a unit
b
: a body of electors compare electoral college
6
: the faculty, students, or administration of a college
The college was at the football game in force.
Synonyms
- association
- board
- brotherhood
- chamber
- club
- congress
- consortium
- council
- fellowship
- fraternity
- guild
- gild
- institute
- institution
- league
- order
- organization
- society
- sodality
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She teaches art at a local college. He graduated from one of the country's best colleges. She attended a business college. He attended college for several years, but didn't graduate. She dropped out of college. I went to Mount Holyoke College. When I was a junior in college, I spent a semester in Spain. the Edinburgh College of Art the London College of Fashion She is attending fashion college. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Joining the Ranch program is to join the group within – the cool kids in school, the rebels in college. —
Duncan Madden, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023 Leggett, a 6-2 senior guard who is looking to play baseball in college, is the lone returning starter from last season for the team. —Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2023 Joy, 23, gained recognition as a jazz vocalist in college before going viral on TikTok in 2020 with over 1.5 million views. —Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 6 Feb. 2023 Silvera saw some good examples of pass rushers in college. —Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2023 After studying acting in college, Dillon left the Midwest and moved to New York. —Vulture, 3 Feb. 2023 The Taliban doubled down on their ban of women in girls in college last week, warning universities not to allow female Afghans to take entry exams. —Paul Best, Fox News, 2 Feb. 2023 Both overcame odds in college and in the pros to become among the all-time best at their positions. —Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 2 Feb. 2023 One of the top defenders, the points marked Laatsch’s first multi-point game in college and gave the Badgers a moment of hope in what proved to be a tough series. —Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2023 See More
Duncan Madden, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023 Leggett, a 6-2 senior guard who is looking to play baseball in college, is the lone returning starter from last season for the team. —Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2023 Joy, 23, gained recognition as a jazz vocalist in college before going viral on TikTok in 2020 with over 1.5 million views. —Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 6 Feb. 2023 Silvera saw some good examples of pass rushers in college. —Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2023 After studying acting in college, Dillon left the Midwest and moved to New York. —Vulture, 3 Feb. 2023 The Taliban doubled down on their ban of women in girls in college last week, warning universities not to allow female Afghans to take entry exams. —Paul Best, Fox News, 2 Feb. 2023 Both overcame odds in college and in the pros to become among the all-time best at their positions. —Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 2 Feb. 2023 One of the top defenders, the points marked Laatsch’s first multi-point game in college and gave the Badgers a moment of hope in what proved to be a tough series. —Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2023 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin collegium society, from collega colleague — more at colleague
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing college
Kids Definition
college
noun col·lege ˈkäl-ij
1
: a building used for an educational or religious purpose
2
a
: a self-governing body of a university offering living quarters and instruction but not granting degrees
Balliol College at Oxford
b
: a school higher than a high school
c
: an independent institution offering a course of general studies leading to a bachelor's degree
also : a university division offering this
3
: an organized body of persons having common interests or duties
the college of cardinals
college
noun
as in organization
a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest a college of craftsmen dedicated to preserving the traditional crafts of Appalachia Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- organization
- institute
- institution
- fraternity
- society
- association
- brotherhood
- chamber
- board
- council
- league
- group
- club
- consortium
- community
- guild
- commune
- collective
- team
- chapter
- congress
- fellowship
- cadre
- gild
- sodality
- camp
- order
- party
- partnership
- coalition
- sorority
- cooperative
- local
- alliance
- clique
- squad
- body
- circle
- crew
- clan
- bloc
- branch
- band
- membership
- coterie
- confederacy
- junta
- sisterhood
- set
- faithful
- gang
- fold
- outfit
- cabal
- lot
- syndicate
- junto
- conspiracy
- cartel
- combine
- klatch
- ring
- klatsch
- camarilla
- camorra