What Does Collate Mean? [Definition, Usage, & 150 Examples]

The word “collate” might sound fancy, but it’s a term used in everyday settings, from organizing documents to compiling data.

Keep reading to uncover its most popular meaning, origins, and applications.

Here Is What Collate Means

At its core, the verb “collate” means to collect, organize, or arrange items systematically, often according to a specific order.

Most common contexts:

• General Use: To gather or assemble things for comparison or review.
• Printing: To arrange multiple copies of printed pages in the correct order.
• Research/Data: To compile information for analysis.

Here is how to use collate in a sentence:

• I need to collate the meeting notes before sharing them with the team.
• The librarian collated all the manuscripts chronologically.
• Before publishing, she collated the research findings into a clear report.

Origin of Collate

The word “collate” comes from the Latin word collātus, the past participle of collāre, which means “to bring together.”

It’s a combination of “com-“ (together) and “lātum” (carried).

In medieval English, the term evolved to mean “compare texts for accuracy,” often within scholarly or religious settings. Over time, its meaning expanded to include organizing and gathering items in a logical order.

What Does Collate Mean When Printing?

When printing, collate refers to organizing multiple copies of multi-page documents so that each set has the pages in the correct order.

For example:

• If you print 5 copies of a 10-page document with collation enabled, the pages will come out in order like this:
  • Set 1: Pages 1, 2, 3…10
  • Set 2: Pages 1, 2, 3…10
  • Set 3: Pages 1, 2, 3…10
• If collation is disabled, all copies of page 1 will print first, followed by all copies of page 2, and so on:
  • Pages 1, 1, 1, 1, 1
  • Pages 2, 2, 2, 2, 2

Collation is particularly useful when printing booklets, reports, or presentation handouts where page order matters.

Check out this helpful video about what collate means when printing:

Other Words for Collate

Synonyms for “collate” include:

• Organize
• Assemble
• Arrange
• Gather
• Compile
• Collect
• Sort
• Systematize
• Consolidate
• Align
• Sequence
• Order
• Classify
• Coordinate
• Aggregate

Usage of Collate

Here’s how “collate” is used in different contexts:

Professional Settings

• Please collate the annual reports for the board members.
• The teacher asked the assistant to collate the test papers for distribution.
• Before the meeting, collate all project updates and email them to the team.

Academic/Research

• The scholar collated ancient texts to study their similarities.
• For the thesis, the student collated statistical data from various sources.
• Historians collated diaries, letters, and photos to reconstruct the timeline.

Printing and Publishing

• The printer can automatically collate your documents.
• After printing, collate the pages manually to ensure accuracy.
• Publishers collate chapters into a finalized book format.

General Use

• Let’s collate our ideas before we start designing the project.
• She collated recipes into a family cookbook.
• They collated feedback from customers to improve the product.

150 Examples of Collate in a Sentence

Here are examples demonstrating the use of “collate” in various scenarios:

1. The secretary will collate the reports before submitting them to management.
2. Please collate the files alphabetically for easy access.
3. She collated all the survey responses into a detailed spreadsheet.
4. The librarian collated historical manuscripts for the exhibition.
5. They collated financial records for the audit.
6. Can you collate all the relevant emails for this project?
7. The software helps users collate customer data effortlessly.
8. Before the test, collate all the answer sheets.
9. The students collated their research findings into one cohesive report.
10. Let’s collate our notes before finalizing the presentation.
11. I’ll collate the feedback from everyone and share the summary.
12. The publisher collated all the essays for the anthology.
13. She collated recipes for her food blog.
14. The office assistant was tasked to collate and distribute the printouts.
15. They collated the evidence to strengthen their argument.
16. Can you collate the references in the correct order?
17. He collated the articles for a weekend reading list.
18. Researchers collated test results to find patterns.
19. She collated her photographs into a personal album.
20. The printer automatically collated the documents for us.
21. Let’s collate the information to spot any inconsistencies.
22. He collated a list of potential clients.
23. She collated all the invoices for the month.
24. Please collate the applications by their submission dates.
25. I need to collate the resumes for the hiring committee.
26. He collated music tracks for a themed playlist.
27. The professor collated notes from various lectures into one guide.
28. The museum staff collated artifacts for the new display.
29. I collated the receipts to file my tax return.
30. The interns collated business cards for the networking event.
31. Collate all the answers before we analyze the results.
32. The nurse collated patient records for the doctor.
33. She collated press clippings for the media report.
34. Let’s collate the project tasks into a checklist.
35. The editor collated chapters from multiple writers.
36. I’ll collate notes from the brainstorming session.
37. The committee collated ideas for the charity event.
38. The team collated data to track performance trends.
39. He collated photos to create a family slideshow.
40. I collated menus from different restaurants for comparison.
41. She collated customer reviews for her presentation.
42. The engineer collated specifications for the prototype.
43. They collated travel itineraries for the group tour.
44. He collated materials for the construction project.
45. She collated research papers for her literature review.
46. Let’s collate our findings into a single document.
47. The accountant collated all expense reports.
48. She collated fabric samples for her fashion collection.
49. Collate the test scores and identify any patterns.
50. He collated phone numbers into a master contact list.
51. They collated statistics for the annual report.
52. Collate the supplies needed for the project.
53. She collated answers from the team survey.
54. The team collated meeting notes for reference.
55. Collate the data points for the presentation.
56. He collated journal entries for his memoir.
57. Collate the event schedules for participants.
58. She collated case studies for her report.
59. Let’s collate the photos from the event.
60. He collated sound files for the documentary.
61. Collate medical records for the patient transfer.
62. They collated marketing campaigns for analysis.
63. Collate tasks to streamline workflow.
64. She collated charts and graphs for her report.
65. Collate purchase orders for approval.
66. I collated budget estimates for the project.
67. The assistant collated slides for the presentation.
68. Collate phone logs for customer inquiries.
69. They collated proposals for the new initiative.
70. He collated research journals for his thesis.
71. She collated emails into a categorized archive.
72. The planner collated schedules for the conference.
73. I collated facts for the upcoming debate.
74. He collated interview responses to identify key insights.
75. The technician collated test results for troubleshooting.
76. She collated templates for the marketing team.
77. He collated important deadlines for the calendar.
78. I collated receipts to track expenses.
79. The manager collated progress reports for review.
80. They collated contact lists for the sales department.
81. She collated weekly agendas for team meetings.
82. The student collated drafts before finalizing the essay.
83. He collated safety reports for the audit.
84. I collated creative ideas for the ad campaign.
85. She collated feedback forms for analysis.
86. The assistant collated orders for the shipment.
87. They collated notes for the seminar.
88. He collated video clips for the presentation.
89. She collated news articles for research.
90. I collated travel receipts for reimbursement.
91. They collated project outlines for the stakeholders.
92. He collated software logs to resolve the issue.
93. She collated purchase invoices for accounting.
94. I collated expert opinions for the report.
95. They collated user reviews to improve the product.
96. She collated spreadsheets for the quarterly report.
97. He collated attendance records for payroll processing.
98. I collated FAQs for the support team.
99. The editor collated feedback for the manuscript revisions.
100. She collated daily logs to analyze productivity.

Why Is Collating Important?

Collating ensures order, consistency, and efficiency in various tasks:

• Accuracy: Proper collation prevents errors in sequence or grouping.
• Efficiency: It saves time by keeping information organized.
• Professionalism: Organized documents convey a sense of order and reliability.

Without collation, tasks like printing, data analysis, or record-keeping become chaotic and inefficient.

How to Collate Manually vs. Automatically

It’s helpful to know how to collate in two ways — manually vs. automatically.

Manual Collation

1. Gather all materials or documents.
2. Arrange them in the required sequence (e.g., numerical, alphabetical).
3. Group sets carefully, double-checking for order.

Automatic Collation

• Use printer settings: Select the “Collate” option in the print dialog.
• Use software tools like Microsoft Word, Excel, or PDF editors that auto-sort data.
• Automated collation saves significant time for large tasks.

Tools That Help You Collate

Several tools streamline collation:

• Printers: Modern printers include a “Collate” feature.
• Spreadsheet Software: Excel and Google Sheets allow sorting and filtering.
• Document Editors: Microsoft Word and Google Docs automate page collation.
• Project Management Tools: Tools like Trello, Asana, and Notion help organize tasks.
• Data Management Platforms: Airtable and Smartsheet offer advanced collation features.

Final Thoughts: What Does Collate Mean?

Understanding “collate” empowers you to better organize, gather, and arrange items, whether you’re working on documents, projects, or data.

The next time you see this word, you’ll know exactly how to use it—and impress others with your systematic skills.

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