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

The program will take on just 20 students in its first two semesters, according to Elizabeth Resh, Airo general manager and head pilot. —Anthony Madden, Arkansas Online, 4 Apr. 2025

By the end of my first semester, I was put on academic probation and given a chance to rebound in my second semester. —Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2025

All dining halls were open Tuesday, the first day of spring semester classes at Northwestern, according to the university’s website. —Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025

This semester is the first time Ivory has been able to take on a full-time course load because of the access to child care. —Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 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