university

noun

plural universities
1
: an institution of higher learning providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees
specifically : one made up of an undergraduate division which confers bachelor's degrees and a graduate division which comprises a graduate school and professional schools each of which may confer master's degrees and doctorates
2
: the physical plant of a university

Examples of university in a Sentence

I applied to several public universities. He lives near the university.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Taliban have taken multiple steps to walk back women's rights since taking over the country in August 2021, including banning education for girls beyond grade six, banning women from universities and, most recently, banning women's voices and bare faces in public. David Faris, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024 In Delaware, a law adds colleges and universities to a list of school zones where guns are prohibited, with exceptions for those working in their official capacity such as law officers and commissioned security guards. David A. Lieb, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024 While colleges and universities wrestle with policies and curricula, industries are adapting AI to reshape their processes, innovate responsibly, and meet the fast pace of societal change. Jessica A. Stansbury, Baltimore Sun, 29 Dec. 2024 In a study of 628 U.S.-born tech founders from 287 different universities, 81% did not come from Ivy-plus schools. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 28 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for university 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English universite, from Anglo-French université, from Medieval Latin universitat-, universitas, from Latin universus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of university was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near university

Cite this Entry

“University.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/university. Accessed 11 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

university

noun
plural universities
: a school that offers courses leading to a degree (as a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree) and where research is done

More from Merriam-Webster on university

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