collection plate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Ecclesiastical, Neutral
Quick answer
What does “collection plate” mean?
A plate, often made of metal or wood, passed among attendees during a Christian church service to collect monetary offerings.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A plate, often made of metal or wood, passed among attendees during a Christian church service to collect monetary offerings.
Any receptacle used to collect charitable donations, often by passing it among a group; symbolically, the act of collecting church offerings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. 'Offertory plate' is a less common variant used in both dialects.
Connotations
Identical. Connotes tradition, communal worship, and voluntary giving.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to greater cultural emphasis on church attendance and televised religious services.
Grammar
How to Use “collection plate” in a Sentence
V (pass/hold) + the + collection platethe collection plate + V (circulates/is passed)donate + to + the collection plateVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “collection plate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sidesmen will now collection-plate the congregation. (Very rare/innovative)
American English
- They decided to collection-plate the audience after the sermon. (Very rare/innovative)
adjective
British English
- The collection-plate donations were counted after the service. (Compound adjective)
American English
- We recorded the collection-plate totals for the year. (Compound adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in standard business contexts.
Academic
Used in religious studies, sociology, or anthropology when discussing religious practices and community funding.
Everyday
Primarily used when discussing church activities or charitable events modelled on church practice.
Technical
Not a technical term in engineering or IT.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “collection plate”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “collection plate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “collection plate”
- Using 'collection plate' for a collection of artistic plates (correct: 'plate collection').
- Saying 'collection bowl' (possible, but 'plate' is standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. Its core use is in Christian worship. The term can be extended metaphorically to any similar group donation activity, but this is less common.
'Collection plate' is formal and specific to religious settings. 'Passing the hat' is an informal, secular idiom for collecting money from a group for any purpose, like a gift or a casual fund.
No, it is a noun. The standard verbs are 'pass', 'circulate', or 'hold' the collection plate. Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to collection-plate') is highly non-standard and rare.
Yes, modern churches often use online donation portals, mobile payment apps, or text-to-give services. These are sometimes informally called 'digital collection plates', though the traditional term refers to the physical object.
A plate, often made of metal or wood, passed among attendees during a Christian church service to collect monetary offerings.
Collection plate is usually formal, ecclesiastical, neutral in register.
Collection plate: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈlɛkʃən pleɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈlɛkʃən pleɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pass the hat around (informal, secular equivalent)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COLLECTION of coins on a PLATE, gathered from the church congregation.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CHURCH IS A COMMUNITY (supported by the metaphorical 'plate' of shared resources).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter a 'collection plate'?