The term college (Latin collegium) is most often used today to denote an educational institution. More broadly, it can be the name of any group of colleagues (see for example electoral college, College of Arms). Originally it meant a group of people living together under a common set of rules (con-, "together" + leg-, "law"); indeed, some colleges call their members "fellows". The precise usage of the term varies among English-speaking countries.

United Kingdom

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British usage of the word "college" remains the loosest, encompassing a range of institutions:

• colleges of further education and adult education.
• "sixth form colleges", where students (ages 16-18) finish their secondary education, and some specialist schools
• the constituent parts of some universities (see below)
• university colleges — independent higher education institutions that have been granted degree-awarding powers but not university status.
• certain public schools for children such as Eton and WinchesterEton College website using school as the educational institute but College as the name
• professional associations such as the Royal College of Organists, the Royal College of Surgeons and other various Royal Colleges.
• the College of Justice or Court of Session of Scotland

In general use, a "college" refers to; institutions between secondary school and university, colleges of further education and adult education. Many types of institutions have "college" in its name but are not "colleges" in the general use of the word. For example Eton College would not be referred to as a college, but as a school or by its full name Eton College website using school as the educational institute but College as the name.

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