Collection — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /kə-ˈlek-shən/ col·lec·tion

Meaning & Definition of Collection

Collection (noun)

  1. the act or process of collecting
  2. something collected; especially, an accumulation of objects gathered for study, comparison, or exhibition or as a hobby
  3. group, aggregate

Collection (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an organized group of objects acquired and maintained for study, exhibition, or personal pleasure

    "his stamp collection has become quite valuable"

    similar: assemblage, library
    related: assortment, kaleidoscope, miscellanea, mixed bag, omnium-gatherum, phantasmagoria, treasure, treasure trove, trove, arsenal, cache, hoard, repertoire, repertory, reserve, stock, stockpile, store, supply, accumulation, assembly, gathering
    near: bric-a-brac, clutter, heap, jumble, litter, pile, ragbag

  2. a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time

    "a collection of lint underneath the dryer"

    similar: accretion, accumulation, assemblage, cumulation, cumulus, gathering, lodgment, pileup
    related: agglomerate, assortment, congeries, conglomerate, conglomeration, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jumble, medley, mélange, mishmash, mix, mixture, motley, potpourri, agglomeration, clutter, hash, heap, litter, mass, pile, aggregate, aggregation, sum, totality, backlog, cache, fund, hoard, inventory, kitty, nest egg, reserve, stock, stockpile, store, supply

  3. a number of things considered as a unit

    "the historic village boasts an interesting collection of gift shops and antique stores"

    similar: array, assemblage, band, bank, batch, battery, block, bunch, clot, clump, cluster, clutch, constellation, group, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, muster, package, parcel, passel, set, suite, the whole kit and caboodle
    related: accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomeration, agglomeration, assortment, hodgepodge, jumble, miscellany, mixture, odds and ends, sundries, variety, cycle, run, series, suit
    near: entity, item, single, unit

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Collection

The most common words with a similar meaning to Collection:

assemblage, library, accretion, accumulation, cumulation, cumulus, gathering, lodgment, pileup, array, band, bank, batch, battery, block, bunch, clot, clump, cluster, clutch, constellation, group, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, muster, package, parcel, passel, set, suite, the whole kit and caboodle

Related Words for Collection

assortment, kaleidoscope, miscellanea, mixed bag, omnium-gatherum, phantasmagoria, treasure, treasure trove, trove, arsenal, cache, hoard, repertoire, repertory, reserve, stock, stockpile, store, supply, assembly, agglomerate, congeries, conglomerate, conglomeration, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jumble, medley, mélange, mishmash

Near Antonyms of Collection

bric-a-brac, clutter, heap, jumble, litter, pile, ragbag, entity, item, single, unit

Origin & Etymology of Collection

Middle English colleccioun, collection, borrowed from Anglo-French collection, borrowed from Latin collēctiōn-, collēctiō "bringing together, accumulation," from colleg-, variant stem of colligere "to gather together, assemble, accumulate, pull (oneself) together" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action collect:2

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Collection

Words & Phrases Containing Collection

subcollection

Frequently Asked Questions about Collection

What does "Collection" mean?

"Collection" means the act or process of collecting. As a noun, it is defined as: the act or process of collecting. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Collection"?

Other words for "Collection" include assemblage, library, accretion, accumulation, cumulation, cumulus, gathering and lodgment. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Collection" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Collection"?

There are 91 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Collection". Common alternatives include assemblage, library, accretion, accumulation, cumulation, cumulus, gathering, lodgment, pileup and array.

How do you use "Collection" in a sentence?

Examples of "Collection" in a sentence: "his stamp collection has become quite valuable"; "a collection of lint underneath the dryer"; "the historic village boasts an interesting collection of gift shops and antique stores".

Is "Collection" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Collection" is a noun.

Is "Collection" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Collection" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Collection"?

"Collection" is pronounced /kə-ˈlek-shən/ and divided into syllables as col·lec·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Collection"?

"Collection" comes from Middle English colleccioun, collection, borrowed from Anglo-French collection, borrowed from Latin collēctiōn-, collēctiō "bringing together, accumulation," from colleg-, variant stem of colligere "to gather together, assemble, accumulate, pull (oneself) together" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action collect:2. First known use: 14th century.