semester

noun

se·​mes·​ter sə-ˈme-stər 

1

: either of the two usually 18-week periods of instruction into which an academic year is often divided

2

: a period of six months

semestral

sə-ˈme-strəl 

adjective

or semestrial

sə-ˈme-strē-əl 

Examples of semester in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When the spring semester started, Cooper alleged that Feldman began inviting her to have private meetings, claiming that during these one-on-ones her coach began to exert control over her. —Michael Nied, People.com, 16 June 2025

Fall semester enrollment totaled around 34,000 students, with spring enrollment numbers not yet released. —Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 14 June 2025

To be honored by the campus in Midway, Kentucky, full-time students had to earn a 3.60 semester GPA. —Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2025

The program runs during the fall and spring semesters, inviting a small number of students to develop knowledge, skills, and experience with media production. —Zuri Primos, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

German, from Latin semestris half-yearly, from sex six + mensis month — more at six, moon

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing semester

• semester hour

Rhymes for semester

• ancestor
• arrester
• digester
• investor
• protester
• requester
• sequester
• silvester
• trimester
• ester
• esther
• fester

Kids Definition

semester

noun

se·​mes·​ter sə-ˈmes-tər 

: either of two terms of about 18 weeks each that make up a school year