university

noun

uni·​ver·​si·​ty ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-sə-tē How to pronounce university (audio)
-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
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.
The event was held in the Appleton Room of Fisk's Jubilee Hall under an 1800s-era portrait of the university's iconic Fisk Jubilee Singers. Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 23 July 2025 Her mother spoke to those who had gathered for a prayer service at the university on Monday, July 21, local radio station WIZM reported. Jillian Frankel, People.com, 22 July 2025 Anna Marson, a former Tuscany regional minister who now teaches urban planning at a university in Venice, was closely involved in putting forward a plan to impose stricter environmental regulations on the region’s marble quarries in 2014. Meara Sharma, The Dial, 22 July 2025 The federal grants that were frozen impact about 900 research studies at the university, from national security to cancer treatments. Brittney Melton, NPR, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for university

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of university was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“University.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/university. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

university

noun
uni·​ver·​si·​ty ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-sət-ē How to pronounce university (audio)
-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

More from Merriam-Webster on university

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