Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

colleague

/ˈkɒliːɡ/
noun★Intermediate— a coworker or fellow professional
formal

a person with whom one works, especially in a professional or academic context

My colleagues and I are working on a new initiative.

I and the people I work with are developing a new plan.

She received praise from her colleagues for her research.

Her coworkers recognized her work in the study.

💡

Used in professional settings, often implying shared goals or workplace relationships.

Collocations

work colleaguea colleague in a professional settingclose colleaguea colleague with whom one has a strong working relationshipcolleague of minea colleague belonging to the speaker

Synonyms

coworkerassociatepeerfellow worker

Antonyms

superiorsubordinateboss

💡Pro Tip

Formal vs. Informal

Use 'colleague' in emails or meetings to sound professional. Reserve 'coworker' for casual conversations.

⚡Gold Rule

Plural Form

The plural of 'colleague' is 'colleagues' (not 'collegues').

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'collega' (fellow worker), combining 'com-' (together) + 'legare' (to choose, send). Entered English in the early 16th century.

📝Usage Notes

Prefer 'colleague' in formal or professional contexts; 'coworker' is more common in casual or American English.

Word Breakdown

col-
together
prefix
+
-lega
choose, send
root
+
-ue
noun suffix
suffix
English Dictionary

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Recent Lookups

The most recent words being looked up. Stay up to date with what language learners are exploring.