college
college
Pronunciation
General American: /ˈkɑːlɪdʒ/
Received Pronunciation (British English): /ˈkɒlɪdʒ/
First Syllable: /ˈkɑːl/
/k/: Voiceless velar plosive (as in "cat")
/ɑː/: Open back unrounded vowel (as in "father")
/l/: Voiced alveolar lateral approximant (as in "light")
Second Syllable: /ɪdʒ/
/ɪ/: Near-close near-front unrounded vowel (as in "ship")
/dʒ/: Voiced post-alveolar affricate (as in "judge")
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: college
Plural Noun: colleges
Adjective: collegiate
Adverb: collegiately (less common, but derived from collegiate)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A higher educational institution offering courses beyond the high school level, often leading to a bachelor's degree or other certifications. This type of institution can be a standalone entity or a constituent part of a university.
Synonyms: university, academy, institute, school (in the sense of higher education), institution, polytechnic (British English), higher education establishment.
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for the institution itself, but related to different educational levels): high school, secondary school, primary school, kindergarten.
The building or campus where a college (as defined above) is located, or the physical facilities associated with it.
Synonyms: campus, grounds, premises, halls, buildings, university grounds.
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; describes a physical location).
A specific faculty, school, or division within a larger university, often specializing in a particular field of study.
Synonyms: faculty, school, department, division, academy.
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a subset of a university).
A group of people sharing a common profession, purpose, or set of privileges, often organized formally. (Less common in everyday usage, but historically relevant, e.g., "College of Cardinals," "Electoral College").
Synonyms: association, society, body, guild, council, assembly, confraternity.
Antonyms: individual, layman, outsider.
Adjective (Collegiate)
Relating to, characteristic of, or typical of a college or its students; pertaining to higher education.
Synonyms: academic, scholarly, scholastic, educational, university-level, campus-related.
Antonyms: unscholarly, unacademic, elementary, high school (describing a lower level).
Adverb (Collegiately)
In a manner characteristic of or pertaining to a college or its students; in an academic or scholarly way.
Synonyms: academically, scholarly, studiously, intellectually, formally (in an academic context).
Antonyms: unacademically, informally, casually, ignorantly.
Examples of Use
Books:
"Attending college was not just about getting a degree; it was about discovering myself and finding my voice." (From a fictional memoir)
"The history professor, an eccentric man with a passion for ancient Rome, had taught at the same small liberal arts college for over thirty years." (From a novel)
Newspapers:
"Local colleges are reporting record application numbers for the upcoming academic year, driven by increased interest in STEM fields." (Daily Nation )
"The university announced a new initiative to make college more affordable for low-income students through expanded scholarship programs." (The New York Times )
Online Publications:
"Why a community college might be the smartest path to a four-year degree for many students." (Forbes.com, "Education" section)
"Our guide to choosing the right college for your career aspirations." (The Student Hub, online education blog)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series: "After high school, I thought about going to college, but then I got this amazing job offer." (Dialogue from a TV drama, e.g., "Grown-ish")
Film: "The protagonist returns to his old college campus for a reunion, stirring up old memories and unresolved feelings." (Plot summary of a movie, e.g., "Old School")
Music/Song Lyrics: "We spent our best years in college, dreaming big and making mistakes." (Lyrics from a pop song)
Podcasts: "In this episode, we explore the pros and cons of taking a gap year before college." (From an educational podcast)
Video Games: (In a text-based adventure or RPG) "Your character has just received an acceptance letter to the prestigious Magic College."
Social Media (e.g., Twitter/X): "Just finished my last final! Officially done with college! #Graduation #Freedom" (User post)
General Public Discourse:
"Are you planning on going to college after you graduate?" (Common question asked to high school students)
"He's home for the summer from college." (Casual conversation among neighbors)
"The cost of college tuition continues to be a major concern for families." (Discussion on local news radio or community forums)
"I'm taking a few evening classes at the community college to learn a new skill." (Everyday conversation)
10 Famous Quotes Using College
"The difference between a college education and no college education is about $750,000 over a lifetime." (Attributed to various sources, often statistical analyses)
"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." (Often associated with Isaac Newton, though he was referring to intellectual predecessors, which can include university/college education)
"I believe that college is a place where you can really find yourself and figure out what you want to do with your life." (Oprah Winfrey)
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." (William Butler Yeats, a sentiment often applied to the transformative nature of a college experience)
"The things taught in colleges and schools are not an education, but the means of education." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go." (Dr. Seuss, often used in commencement speeches at colleges)
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." (Henry David Thoreau, reflecting a spirit of self-discovery that many seek in college)
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." (Eleanor Roosevelt, a common motivational quote for college students)
"What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child." (George Bernard Shaw, an idea fundamental to the self-directed learning encouraged in college)
"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows." (Sydney J. Harris, reflecting the expanded perspective gained through a college education)
Etymology
The word "college" has a fascinating history that goes back to ancient Rome!
It comes from the Latin word "collegium."
Now, "collegium" didn't originally mean a school. Instead, it meant a "community," "society," or "guild" – basically, any group of people who had come together for a common purpose, a shared duty, or who were "colleagues" (people selected to work together).
Think of it like this: the Latin word is formed from "cum" meaning "with" or "together," and "lego," meaning "to collect, gather together, or pick." So, "collegium" literally meant "selected together" or "gathered together."
In ancient Rome, you had all sorts of "collegia" – groups of magistrates, priests, even trade guilds (like groups of artisans). The general idea was an "organized association of persons invested with certain powers and rights or engaged in some common duty or pursuit."
The first known use of the word "college" in English, around the late 14th century (specifically 1379 in the Oxford English Dictionary), still carried this broader meaning. It referred to an "organized association of persons invested with certain powers and rights or engaged in some common duty or pursuit."
However, even then, a very important specific meaning was emerging: "a body of scholars and students within an endowed institution of learning." This is where the connection to education began. Early colleges were often resident halls for scholars within larger universities (like Oxford and Cambridge in England). They were essentially "societies of scholars formed for the purposes of study or instruction," sometimes even funded to support students and clergy.
Over time, especially in places like Scotland and later the United States and Canada, some universities started with only one "college." This led to the word "college" becoming more and more a direct synonym for a standalone institution of higher learning.
So, in simple terms: "college" started out as a general word for a group of people working together for a shared goal, and it gradually narrowed down to mean a group of people gathered together for the purpose of learning, specifically at a higher education level.
Phrases + Idioms Containing College
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "college," supplemented with some related expressions:
College tour: A visit to various colleges by a prospective student to evaluate them.
College bound: Describing someone who plans to attend college.
College days: The period of time one spent as a college student.
College major: The principal subject or course of study of a college student.
College fund: Money saved specifically to pay for college expenses.
College town: A town whose economy and social life are heavily influenced by a college or university located there.
Go to college: To attend a college or university.
After college: The period of life following graduation from college.
College prep (preparatory): Courses or programs designed to prepare students for college.
College life: The experiences and lifestyle of a college student.
Lesser-known/Original/Synonymous Effect Phrases:
Ivory tower: Often refers to universities or colleges, implying a detachment from practical concerns (idiom).
Hit the books: To study hard (common student idiom, often associated with college).
Burning the midnight oil: Staying up late studying or working (common student idiom).
Higher education: A direct synonym for college-level schooling.
Alma mater: The school, college, or university that one formerly attended (Latin phrase).
The hallowed halls: Often refers to respected academic institutions like colleges.
Campus life: The social and academic environment within a college or university campus.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of college from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
