# colliery

/kˈɒlɪəɹi/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/colliery
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a place where coal is mined. It is a word you might hear in history books or in stories about the industrial revolution.

For teachers: a coal mine or the site where coal is extracted from the earth. Often used in historical or technical contexts to distinguish coal mining from other types of mining.

## Examples

- The colliery closed down after fifty years of operation.
- During the nineteenth century, the local colliery provided employment for nearly half of the town's population.
- The decline of the colliery marked the end of an era for the valley, as the once-thriving industrial hub struggled to adapt to the shift toward renewable energy sources.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.