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
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
Examples of college in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
And yet Scott makes for a notably older Tom Ripley — a character written by Highsmith to be just past college age.
—
Daniel D'addario, Variety, 22 May 2024
Back in the day (which has become my favorite day), one experienced only two graduations in life: high school and college.
—Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for college 
Daniel D'addario, Variety, 22 May 2024
Back in the day (which has become my favorite day), one experienced only two graduations in life: high school and college.
—Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for college
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'college.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near college
Cite this Entry
“College.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/college. Accessed 3 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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