collection

noun

col·​lec·​tion kə-ˈlek-shən 

1

: the act or process of collecting

the collection of data

the collection of taxes

2

a

: something collected

especially : an accumulation of objects gathered for study, comparison, or exhibition or as a hobby

a collection of poems

a collection of photographs

a baseball card collection

b

: group, aggregate

a collection of symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, and joint pain

c

: a set of apparel designed for sale usually in a particular season

the designer's spring collection of dresses

Synonyms

• assemblage
• library

Examples of collection in a Sentence

a system of tax collection

The technology makes data collection easier.

There will be a trash collection this week.

The museum's collection is one of the best in the country.

We took up a collection for the school renovations.

Ten percent of the collection goes to the city's shelters for homeless people.

Recent Examples on the Web

Keep scrolling to discover more rugs from the celebrity collection, including machine washable and indoor/outdoor area rugs, up to 77 percent off. —Kelsey Fredricks, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025

The property also has an impressive art collection, which includes large-scale site-specific works by English artist David Tremlett. —Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2025

Bath & Body Works just launched its spring collection (along with its Easter collection, which is seriously adorable) which features fragrances like Waikiki Beach Coconut, Costa Rica Pink Pineapple Sunrise, and Thailand Sweet Kiwi & Starfruit. —Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 22 Feb. 2025

His debut collection, the Blacked Out Collection, reimagines Ray-Ban’s Mega Icons with a new lens type, launching in April 2025. —Cassell Ferere, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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 — more at collect entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing collection

• sub-collection

Rhymes for collection

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• complexion
• confection
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• correction
• defection

Kids Definition

collection

noun

col·​lec·​tion kə-ˈlek-shən 

1

: the act or process of collecting

2

a

: something collected

especially : an accumulation of objects gathered for study, comparison, or exhibition or as a hobby

b

: set entry 2 sense 7

3

: a gathering of money

take up a collection