often attributive
1
a
: 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
b
: a part of a university offering a specialized group of courses
the university's college of pharmacy
c
: an institution offering instruction usually in a professional, vocational, or technical field
business college
an embalming college
d
: 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
e
: a preparatory or high school
2
: the faculty, students, or administration of a college
The college was at the football game in force.
3
a
: a group of persons considered by law to be a unit
b
: a body of electors compare electoral college
4
: a building used for an educational or religious purpose
5
: a body of clergy living together and supported by a foundation
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
Between 2015 and 2023, Weiss gained access to the databases of more than 100 colleges and universities that were being maintained by a third-party vendor, and then downloaded personal information and medical data of more than 150,000 athletes, the indictment states.
—
David Matthews, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025
Those exemptions include circumstances that might relate to hardship, such as huge medical bills or the need to pay health insurance premiums after a layoff, as well as college tuition and such happy events as the first-time purchase or of a house and the birth or adoption of a child.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
The two college professors first met at a Lumon-run blood drive — did Lumon orchestrate their relationship from the start?
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
Owen would be excited about the prospect of college kids running around Grey Sloan swiping stuff for a scavenger hunt?
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for college
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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David Matthews, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025
Those exemptions include circumstances that might relate to hardship, such as huge medical bills or the need to pay health insurance premiums after a layoff, as well as college tuition and such happy events as the first-time purchase or of a house and the birth or adoption of a child.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
The two college professors first met at a Lumon-run blood drive — did Lumon orchestrate their relationship from the start?
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
Owen would be excited about the prospect of college kids running around Grey Sloan swiping stuff for a scavenger hunt?
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for college
Cite this Entry
“College.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/college. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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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