university

noun

uni·​ver·​si·​ty ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-sə-tē 

-ˈvər-stē

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

Students attending public universities or community colleges—where a more significant proportion of students depend on federal funding—will likely bear the consequences of this administrative strain. —Scott White, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

Ohio State is among dozens of colleges and universities being investigated by the Trump administration for alleged antisemitism tied to campus protests. —Andrew King, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025

While a student at Columbia, Khalil helped lead protests and led negotiations between student protesters and the university administration last spring, Time reported. —Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2025

Khalil participated in student protests last year at Columbia University and was one of the negotiators on behalf of students during on-campus protests pushing for the university to divest from Israel over the war with Hamas. —Adrian Florido, NPR, 12 Mar. 2025

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

Phrases Containing university

• anti-university
• go to university
• inter-university
• pre-university
• state university

Rhymes for university

• adversity
• diversity
• perversity
• biodiversity
• polydispersity

Kids Definition

university

noun

uni·​ver·​si·​ty ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-sət-ē 

-ˈvər-stē

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