colleague — a person with whom one works, especially in a profession or business
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a person with whom one works, especially in a profession or business
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkɑːliːɡ/
Example Sentences
- My colleague always steals my lunch from the office fridge, but I still consider him a friend.
- She introduced me to her new colleague who joined the marketing team.
- My colleagues and I decided to surprise our boss by actually finishing a project on time.
colleague
NOUN[/ˈkɑːliːɡ/]
a person with whom one works, especially in a profession or business

The colleagues worked together to finish the project on time.

The colleagues celebrated after winning the company sports event. (CO + LEAGUE → people on the same team or in the same league)

The colleagues cooperated on the project and came to appreciate one another.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from 16th-century French 'collegue', ultimately from Latin 'collega', meaning 'a person chosen together'. Originally used in ecclesiastical and academic contexts to denote clergy and professors working in the same institution, the term gradually broadened to encompass coworkers across all professional fields.
Breakdown
col- (together, from Latin 'com-') + -league (from Latin 'legare', to choose or appoint). The root 'legare' gave rise to the concept of someone appointed alongside another.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My colleague always steals my lunch from the office fridge, but I still consider him a friend.”
“She introduced me to her new colleague who joined the marketing team.”
“My colleagues and I decided to surprise our boss by actually finishing a project on time.”
“I rely on my colleagues for advice when facing difficult decisions.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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