YWCA
noun
ˌwī-ˌdə-bəl-yu̇-(ˌ)sē-ˈā 
-ˌdə-bə-yu̇-
: an international organization that promotes the spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical welfare originally of young women
—usually used with the
a member of the YWCA
—sometimes shortened informally to the Y
Examples of YWCA in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After graduation, Rashad moved into the YWCA on 51st Street in Midtown, above the Clark Center for the Performing Arts, then the home of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
—
Reggie Ugwu, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
Billy Webb Elks Lodge 6 N. Tillamook St. Built in 1926, this Colonial Revival-style building housed the African American branch of the YWCA and a meeting place for civil rights groups like the NAACP and Urban League.
—Meira Gebel, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
Domestic violence groups, including the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline and YWCA Nashville endorsed the legislation.
—Nate Rau, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Adams also volunteered with the YWCA, National Urban League and United Way and founded Dayton’s Black Leadership Development Group in 1982.
—Emily Krauser, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Many of the young passengers, invited from local New Jersey hospitals and community programs such as RWJBarnabas Health Children’s Health Network, University Hospital and the YWCA, experienced the thrill of flying for the very first time.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 19 Dec. 2024
Upon returning to Chicago, Jenkins was hired as teenage program director of the YWCA’s South Park Way branch.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2024
Mary, for example, was permitted to take a bus ride to Jackson, Mississippi, to attend a YWCA leadership conference.
—Jake Whitney, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
The organization, which is led by former top YWCA executive Patricia Glaser Shea, hopes to build community partnerships to improve policing in Nashville.
—Nate Rau, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
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Reggie Ugwu, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
Billy Webb Elks Lodge 6 N. Tillamook St. Built in 1926, this Colonial Revival-style building housed the African American branch of the YWCA and a meeting place for civil rights groups like the NAACP and Urban League.
—Meira Gebel, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
Domestic violence groups, including the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline and YWCA Nashville endorsed the legislation.
—Nate Rau, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Adams also volunteered with the YWCA, National Urban League and United Way and founded Dayton’s Black Leadership Development Group in 1982.
—Emily Krauser, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Many of the young passengers, invited from local New Jersey hospitals and community programs such as RWJBarnabas Health Children’s Health Network, University Hospital and the YWCA, experienced the thrill of flying for the very first time.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 19 Dec. 2024
Upon returning to Chicago, Jenkins was hired as teenage program director of the YWCA’s South Park Way branch.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2024
Mary, for example, was permitted to take a bus ride to Jackson, Mississippi, to attend a YWCA leadership conference.
—Jake Whitney, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
The organization, which is led by former top YWCA executive Patricia Glaser Shea, hopes to build community partnerships to improve policing in Nashville.
—Nate Rau, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“YWCA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/YWCA. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
YWCA
noun
: an international organization that promotes the spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical welfare originally of young Christian women
Etymology
Young Women's Christian Association
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