collocate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical/Academic
Quick answer
What does “collocate” mean?
To be regularly or frequently used together with another word.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To be regularly or frequently used together with another word; to place side by side.
In lexicography and corpus linguistics, a word or phrase that habitually co-occurs with another word or phrase, forming a predictable and conventional combination. Also used more broadly to refer to items that are situated together.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The technical term is identical and used with the same frequency in both linguistic traditions.
Connotations
None beyond its academic/technical register.
Frequency
Equally rare in everyday speech and equally common in linguistic discourse in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “collocate” in a Sentence
[VERB] + with + [NOUN PHRASE] (e.g., 'Powerful' collocates with 'computer').[VERB] + [ADVERB] + with (e.g., 'It collocates strongly with...')[NOUN] + of + [NOUN PHRASE] (e.g., 'a frequent collocate of 'make' is 'decision').Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “collocate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'Heavy' collocates quite naturally with 'rain' in English.
- The researcher analysed which adjectives collocate with 'issue'.
American English
- 'Awesome' collocates with a wide range of nouns in informal American English.
- We need to see how this new slang term collocates in the corpus.
adverb
British English
- This term is used almost exclusively in linguistic contexts.
- The words are collocate-related.
American English
- The terms are collocate-specific.
- It's a largely collocate-based analysis.
adjective
British English
- The collocate pairs were highlighted in the corpus analysis.
- They studied the collocate strength using statistical measures.
American English
- The software identifies the most significant collocate words.
- A key collocate pattern was observed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Possibly in the context of branding or market analysis (e.g., 'Our brand name should collocate with positive adjectives').
Academic
Primary context. Central term in corpus linguistics, lexicography, and language teaching methodology.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would be used almost exclusively by language professionals or advanced learners discussing language.
Technical
The core context. Used in linguistic software, dictionary writing, and language research papers.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “collocate”
- Incorrectly using as a synonym for 'locate' or 'place' in non-linguistic contexts. (e.g., 'I collocated my keys on the table').
- Mispronouncing as /kəˈləʊkeɪt/ (stress on second syllable).
- Using the noun form to mean 'location'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a technical term used primarily in linguistics, language teaching, and dictionary writing. It is not part of everyday vocabulary.
A synonym is a word with a similar meaning (e.g., 'big' and 'large'). A collocate is a word that frequently appears *next to or near* another word, regardless of meaning (e.g., 'heavy' is a collocate of 'rain', not because they mean the same thing, but because they are conventionally used together).
Yes. As a verb: 'Which words collocate with 'money'?' As a noun: ''Heavy' is a common collocate of 'smoker'.'
Because it helps learners move from grammatically correct but awkward-sounding speech ('make a photo') to natural, idiomatic language ('take a photo'). Knowledge of collocations is a key marker of advanced proficiency.
To be regularly or frequently used together with another word.
Collocate is usually technical/academic in register.
Collocate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒləkeɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːləkeɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms feature this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of COLLOCATE as placing words in the same LOCATION in sentences repeatedly (CO-LOCATE).
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A SOCIETY (words have 'friends' they keep company with).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'collocate' most frequently and precisely used?