collocation

IPA/ˌkɒləˈkeɪʃn/
KK[kɑləkˈeʃən]IPA/ˌkɑːləˈkeɪʃn/

collocation — noun

  • collocationsingular
  • collocationsplural

1. a particular word that commonly appears alongside another specific word, forming

1.nounB2
Definition

a particular word that commonly appears alongside another specific word, forming a natural pair that native speakers accept as correct

Example

The teacher explained that 'strong' is a common collocation of 'coffee' in everyday English.

adjective + collocation + of

Ravi checked his dictionary to find the correct collocation for 'heavy rain'.

adjective + collocation + for

Common collocations
  • common collocation
  • correct collocation
  • natural collocation
  • learn a collocation
Synonyms
  • word pairing

    less technical, describes the general concept

  • set phrase

    broader — includes idioms and fixed expressions

Grammar Patterns

collocation + of + noun

Usage Note

This is the countable sense — you can say 'a collocation' or 'several collocations'. It focuses on one particular word in the pair, asking which word pairs with a given other word.

Common Mistakes

Strong rain' is a correct collocation because both words make sense together.
Heavy rain' is the correct collocation; native speakers do not say 'strong rain'.
Collocations are based on what native speakers actually use, not on logical word matching.

2. a standard phrase or expression formed by several words that commonly occur toge

2.nounB2
Definition

a standard phrase or expression formed by several words that commonly occur together as a fixed unit

Example

The librarian told the student that 'make a decision' is a common collocation in news writing.

librarian demonstrating collocation in authentic texts

After his shower, Tomás wrote 'take a shower' in his notebook as a fixed collocation.

self-study: writing a collocation in a notebook

Common collocations
  • fixed collocation
  • the collocation '...'
  • form a collocation
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

the + collocation + 'quote' + verb

a + adjective + collocation

Usage Note

Like sense 1, this is also countable. The key difference: sense 1 names one word that pairs with another (e.g. 'collocation of coffee'), while this sense treats the whole multi-word sequence as the unit (e.g. 'the collocation "strong coffee"').

Common Mistakes

Do a mistake' is a reasonable collocation because 'do' and 'mistake' both involve actions.
Make a mistake' is the standard collocation in English.
The verb 'make' pairs with 'mistake', not 'do', even though both verbs are broadly about performing actions.

3. the general way in which particular words regularly and naturally occur together

3.noun
Definition

the general way in which particular words regularly and naturally occur together in a language, often following patterns that are not obvious from the individual word meanings

Example

Every Tuesday afternoon, Yara meets her tutor to practice English collocation using news articles.

uncountable: practicing collocation as a skill with a tutor

Professor Okafor has written several articles about collocation in academic English.

Common collocations
  • guidance on collocation
  • studying collocation
  • collocation in academic English
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

collocation + verb (singular)

studying / learning / teaching + collocation

Usage Note

This is the uncountable sense — do not use 'a' or 'an' with it. Treat it as a singular concept that takes a singular verb. It refers to the whole phenomenon of word partnerships in a language, not to any specific pair.

Common Mistakes

Collocation are important for natural English.
Collocation is important for natural English.
In the uncountable sense, 'collocation' is a singular concept and requires a singular verb.