Illustration of column
- column 2
1
a
: a vertical arrangement of items printed or written on a page
columns of numbers
b
: one of two or more vertical sections of a printed page separated by a rule or blank space
The news article takes up three columns.
c
: an accumulation arranged vertically : stack
columns of paint cans
d
: one in a usually regular series of newspaper or magazine articles
the gossip column
advice columns
2
: a supporting pillar
especially
: one consisting of a usually round shaft, a capital, and a base
a colonnade of marble columns
3
a
: something resembling a column in form, position, or function
a column of water
columns of smoke
b
: a tube or cylinder in which a chromatographic separation takes place
4
: a long row (as of soldiers)
columns of troops
5
: one of the vertical lines of elements of a determinant or matrix
6
: a statistical category or grouping
put another game in the win column
Examples of column in a Sentence
a facade with marble columns
Add the first column of numbers.
The article takes up three columns.
The error appears at the bottom of the second column.
She writes a weekly column for the paper.
Recent Examples on the Web
The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.
—
Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
After a rough 0-2 start to the season, Andy Reid and company badly need to figure out how to get in the win column.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Your recent column on a cat not willing to allow flea medication resonated with me.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
Never miss a Scott Fowler column.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for column
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
After a rough 0-2 start to the season, Andy Reid and company badly need to figure out how to get in the win column.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Your recent column on a cat not willing to allow flea medication resonated with me.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
Never miss a Scott Fowler column.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for column
Cite this Entry
“Column.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/column. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
column
noun
col·umn
ˈkäl-əm 
1
a
: a printed or written vertical arrangement of items
add together the column of numbers
b
: one of two or more vertical sections of a printed page separated by a rule or blank space
c
: a special regular feature in a newspaper or magazine
a sports column
2
: a supporting pillar
especially
: one consisting of a usually round shaft, a capital, and a base
3
: something resembling a column in form, position, or function
a column of water
4
: a long row (as of soldiers)
columned
adjective
Etymology
Middle English columne "column," from early French colompne (same meaning), from Latin columna "column" — related to colonel
Medical Definition
column
noun
col·umn
ˈkäl-əm
: a longitudinal subdivision of the spinal cord that resembles a column or pillar: as
a
: any of the principal longitudinal subdivisions of gray matter or white matter in each lateral half of the spinal cord see dorsal horn, gray column, lateral column sense 1, ventral horn compare funiculus sense a
b
: any of a number of smaller bundles of spinal nerve fibers : fasciculus
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