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

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

Weber works with the YWCA and Easterseals Redwood, an organization dedicated to expanding educational, employment and healthcare opportunities for veterans, children, and the neurodiverse and disabled communities. —Sydney Franklin, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Young Women's Christian Association

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

YWCA

noun

ˌwī-ˌdəb-əl-yu̇-(ˌ)sē-ˈā 

: an international organization that promotes the spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical welfare originally of young Christian women

Etymology

Young Women's Christian Association