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

Visitors can find a playful neon light of a smiling character by L.A. artist Kenny Scharf ($399), whose work is featured in the Broad’s collection. —Maxwell Williams, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024

Louis Vuitton also has a partnership with the Louvre museum, which has hosted fashion shows by Nicolas Ghesquière, artistic director of women’s collections, since 2014. —Joelle Diderich, WWD, 22 Nov. 2024

The holidays aren’t complete without Ree Drummond, better known as The Pioneer Woman, releasing her annual collection and accompanying gift guide. —Erin Lassner, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2024

Lastly, Diesel has unveiled its Pre-Fall 2025 collection. —Essence, 22 Nov. 2024

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