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 University of Missouri in Columbia was ranked higher than the University of Kansas in a list of top universities for 2026, according to Forbes, a financial publication. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025

The ruling came after the university became embroiled in a controversy between two warring factions in the board of trustees over the legality of the appointment of McCormick as president. —Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025

The first to attend university. —Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Downs said the university had already done so for at least one semester prior to the enactment of the law. —Nathan Ansell, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 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