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Institution vs College - What's the difference?

institution | college |

In obsolete terms the difference between institution and college

is that institution is that which institutes or instructs; a textbook or system of elements or rules while college is a corporate group; a group of colleagues.

As nouns the difference between institution and college

is that institution is an established organisation, especially one dedicated to education, public service, culture or the care of the destitute, poor etc while college is a corporate group; a group of colleagues.

institution

English

Noun

(wikipedia institution) (en noun)
  • An established organisation, especially one dedicated to education, public service, culture or the care of the destitute, poor etc.
  • The building which houses such an organisation.
  • A custom or practice of a society or community, marriage for example.
  • (informal) A person long established with a certain place or position.
  • The act of instituting.
  • (obsolete) That which institutes or instructs; a textbook or system of elements or rules.
  • There is another manuscript, of above three hundred years old, being an institution of physic. — Evelyn.

    Derived terms

    * academic institution * educational institution * research institution

    college

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A corporate group; a group of colleagues.
  • (in some proper nouns) A group sharing common purposes or goals.
  • College''' of Cardinals'', '''''College of Surgeons
  • (politics) An electoral college.
  • An academic institution.
  • An institution of higher education.
  • (US) An institution of higher education teaching undergraduates.
  • (attributively, chiefly, US) Attendance at an institution of higher education.
  • These should be his college years, but he joined the Army.
  • (Canada) A postsecondary institution that does not award bachelor's degrees, instead offering vocational training and/or associate's degrees.
  • (chiefly, UK) A non-specialized, semi-autonomous division of a university, with its own faculty, departments, library, etc.
  • Pembroke College''', Cambridge''; ''Balliol '''College''', Oxford''; ''University '''College , London
  • (US, New Zealand) A specialized division of a university.
  • College of Engineering
  • (UK, in the names of private schools) A secondary school.
  • Eton College
  • (UK) An institution of further education at an intermediate level (in the UK, typically teaching those aged 16 to 19); sixth form.
  • (New Zealand) A high school or secondary school.
  • (UK) An institution for adult education at a basic or intermediate level (teaching those of any age).
  • (Australia) A residential hall associated with a university, which may be independent or have its own tutors but is not involved in teaching.
  • Synonyms

    * (institution of higher education) university * (specialized division of a university) department, faculty, school

    Derived terms

    * community college * electoral college * junior college * old college try

    See also

    * university ----