# collagen

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkɒləd͡ʒən/ · frequency rank #20,884

## Definitions
1. The main structural protein in the extracellular matrix of the connective tissues of many animals.

## Etymology
From French collagène, coined from Ancient Greek κόλλα (kólla, “glue”) and -γενής (-genḗs, “-forming”) (see -gen); it is the main substance that animal glues are derived from. Doublet of collage, colloid, and protocol.

## Easily confused with
- **college** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collagen-vs-college)
- **Colleen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collagen-vs-colleen)
- **colleges** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collagen-vs-colleges)
- **collared** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collagen-vs-collared)
- **collated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collagen-vs-collated)
- **collage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collage-vs-collagen)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ccollagen`, `clolagen`, `colagen`, `colalgen`, `collaegn`, `collagenn`, `collaggen`, `collagne`, `collgaen`, `ocllagen`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/collagen