semester

noun

se·​mes·​ter sə-ˈme-stər How to pronounce semester (audio)
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 adjective
or semestrial

Examples of semester in a Sentence

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.
Freshman Mikhail Yegorov, who enrolled for the semester and began playing in January, is an emerging star in the net for the Terriers, with an 8-4-1 record and a 1.83 goals-against average. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2025 Garber stressed the pause is temporary but could last as long as to the end of the semester. Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025 After the clinic finished its case rounds, Allison and some of her classmates met with Rebecca (whose name has also been changed), one of a group of former clinic students invited to continue their work for a second semester. Sarah Lustbader, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025 To Sign Executive Order Today Dismantling Education Department Zooming out from the school day, many of these systems introduce flexible semesters and even whole years at key transition points. Vicki Phillips, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for semester

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of semester was in 1827

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Semester.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semester. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

semester

noun
se·​mes·​ter sə-ˈmes-tər How to pronounce semester (audio)
: either of two terms of about 18 weeks each that make up a school year

More from Merriam-Webster on semester

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