Word
colleague
Definition
n. someone you work with, usually in a professional or office environment.
n. a person with whom one works in a professional or academic capacity; a member of the same staff or organization.
Examples
“I am going to lunch with a colleague from the marketing team.”
“After the meeting, my colleague helped me finish the report so we could leave the office on time.”
“While they are close friends outside of the office, they maintain a strictly professional relationship as colleagues during business hours to avoid any appearance of bias.”
Examples
simple
“I am going to lunch with a colleague from the marketing team.”
contextual
“After the meeting, my colleague helped me finish the report so we could leave the office on time.”
complex
“While they are close friends outside of the office, they maintain a strictly professional relationship as colleagues during business hours to avoid any appearance of bias.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “colleague” in context.
Usage
Commonly used in professional contexts; 'coworker' is more frequent in casual American English.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'friend'. A colleague is strictly a work relationship, though they can also be a friend.
Pitfall
He is my colleague from the university.
He is a colleague of mine from the university.
While 'my colleague' is correct, 'a colleague of mine' is often more natural when introducing one person from a larger group of coworkers.
Etymology
From Middle French collegue, from Latin collēga (“a partner in office”), from com- (“with”) + lēgō (“to send on an embassy”), from lēx (“law”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
- Register
- General-service, Academic
QR code
englishreference.com/q/colleague
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0