colleague

KAH-leeg/ˈkɑliɡ/UKKOL-eeg/ˈkɒliːɡ/

2 meanings of colleague

1
fellow workernouncountable
A person you work with at the same job or organization.
Like a teammate, but at your job instead of on a sports team.
My colleague helped me finish the report before lunch.
She invited a few colleagues over for dinner on Friday.
UsageSay my colleague or a colleague of mine.
Similarcoworker, associate, peer, workmate, counterpart
2
join togetherverbarchaictransitive
To join one person or group together with another.
Similarunite, associate, join, combine, merge
Oppositeseparate, divide

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From Latin collēga, meaning a partner in office. It joins com- ("with") and a root related to law and being sent on official duty.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Colleague derives from Latin collēga. en.wiktionary.org
Latin collēga means a partner in office. en.wiktionary.org
Collēga combines com-, meaning with, and a root connected with law and official missions. en.wiktionary.org