American Dictionary

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Definition college in American English

college noun

noun
/ˈkɑlɪdʒ/

Differences between American and British English: college

In the U.S., a college refers to a place where people study for their bachelor’s degree (=first degree), whether the institution is a college, which offers only bachelor’s degrees, or a university, which offers both bachelor’s degrees and advanced degrees. When British speakers use the word college, they usually mean a place where students over 18 are trained in a particular subject or skill, earning a qualification that is not usually an academic degree. Students in the U.K. who are studying for an academic degree go to a university.

1

in the U.S., a place that gives students degrees. A school of this type can also be called a university if it is large enough to give degrees in more than one subject

Example

a college professor

Synonyms and related words
1.1

all the students and teachers in a college

Example

The whole college was talking about it.

Synonyms and related words
1.2

one of the parts that some universities are divided into

Example

the University of Mexico's College of Arts and Sciences

Synonyms and related words
1.3

in the U.K., a place that gives students qualifications below the level of a university degree, often in the skills they need to do a particular job

Example

She's at secretarial college.

Example

Paul's going to college in September.

Example

I've just started a college course.

Synonyms and related words
1.4

in the U.K., a place that gives students degrees in a particular subject

Example

art/agricultural college

Example

the Royal College of Music

Synonyms and related words
Example

the American College of Surgeons

Synonyms and related words
3

used in the names of some British private schools

Example

Eton College

Synonyms and related words
Definition college in American English