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

The spring collection will be introduced online and in its retail stores, such as DVF’s Meatpacking District store, on Sunday. —Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 29 Jan. 2025

Grab my new favorite organizing hack, Better Homes & Gardens’ Laundry Sorter, and keep scrolling for more finds on my wish list from our Walmart collection, including stackable shelves, spice storage, and rattan baskets. —Ali Faccenda, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Jan. 2025

Will economic data collection that provides the backbone of private-sector investment plans no longer happen? —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

The That’s So Armani capsule collection, which debuted during Paris Fashion Week, celebrates just that. —Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 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

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