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

The Indiana University School of Medicine has canceled its annual LGBTQ+ Health Care Conference, according to the university website. —Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025

Our universities are already connected to state politics. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025

Howard Universal collects the diverse visions and voices of ‘The Mecca’ across generations, showcasing reprints from the university’s yearbooks spanning 1947 to 2011, alongside new images captured on campus by photographer D’Andre Williams. —Essence, 14 Feb. 2025

Protests and around-the-clock encampments concerning the war erupted at colleges and universities around the country. —Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 4 Feb. 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