collectible

collectible — adjective

1. describing an object that people value and want to add to a personal collection,

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describing an object that people value and want to add to a personal collection, because of its age, rarity, beauty, or sentimental interest

Example

Paloma found a set of antique spoons that were highly collectible among Victorian-era enthusiasts.

be + highly collectible + among [group]

The comic books from the 1970s had become collectible items worth thousands of dollars.

collectible + noun (items / stamps / coins)

Common collocations
  • highly collectible
  • collectible item
  • collectible stamp
  • collectible coin
  • collectible figurine
  • collectible toy
  • become collectible
Synonyms
  • collectable

    alternative spelling, more common in British English

  • valuable

    broader term — implies monetary worth, not just hobby interest

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

collectible + noun

be + collectible

Usage Note

Often paired with the adverb 'highly' to indicate strong desirability among collectors. The noun modified is typically a type of object people collect as a hobby (stamps, coins, toys, figurines).

Common Mistakes

I collectible stamps from different countries.
I collect stamps from different countries.
'collectible' is an adjective describing the stamp's value as a collectable item, not a verb meaning to gather.

2. describing a debt, fee, or other sum of money that must be paid according to a l

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing a debt, fee, or other sum of money that must be paid according to a legal or contractual obligation

Example

The invoice showed a collectible balance of three hundred dollars due by Friday.

collectible + [amount] + due by [date]

Wei reviewed the list of collectible accounts that the company needed to pursue.

collectible + accounts / debts

Common collocations
  • collectible debt
  • collectible amount
  • collectible account
  • collectible balance
  • accounts collectible
  • collectible from
  • immediately collectible
Synonyms
  • payable

    more common in general accounting; 'payable' emphasizes the payer's obligation, while 'collectible' emphasizes the recipient's right to demand payment

  • receivable

    standard accounting term for amounts owed to a business

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

collectible + noun (debt, amount, account)

be + collectible

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively in financial, accounting, and legal documents. Commonly appears in phrases such as 'accounts collectible,' 'collectible debt,' and 'collectible amount.' Not found in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

The rent is collectible this month' (vague timing).
The rent is collectible on the first of each month under the lease.
specify the due-date condition to make the financial-legal sense clear.

collectible — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words describe objects people keep or seek out, but they differ in age, purpose, and typical context. A 'collectible' is any item people gather as a hobby — it may be new or old, valuable or sentimental ('modern collectible toys,' 'mass-produced collectible pins'). 'Collectable' is identical in meaning but is the preferred spelling in British English. A 'curio' is a collectible valued for its unusual, quirky, or odd character rather than its financial worth ('a curio from a travelling fair'). An 'antique' is strictly an object that is over 100 years old and typically carries historical or craftsmanship value ('an antique Chippendale chair'). 'Memorabilia' refers specifically to objects associated with famous people, events, or cultural phenomena, such as concert programmes or signed photographs. In practice, a toy car from the 1980s is a 'collectible' but not an 'antique'; a signed film poster is 'memorabilia,' not a 'curio'; and a strange Victorian gadget might be a 'curio' as well as a 'collectible.'

collectible ↗collectable ↗curioantique ↗memorabilia ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • collectible item
  • collectible object

Adverbs

  • highly collectible

Prepositions

  • collectible by

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Derived from the verb 'collect,' which traces back to Latin 'colligere' — formed from 'com-' (together) and 'legere' (to gather, to pick). The adjective 'collectible' emerged in the mid-19th century. The financial sense ('due for payment') developed in legal and accounting usage beginning in the 1800s, while the hobby sense ('worth collecting') became widespread in the early 20th century as pastimes like stamp- and coin-collecting grew in popularity among the middle class.