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

This new credential is modeled similarly to Indiana’s College Core program, which allows students to obtain a 30-credit block, or a full school year worth of class credits, to transfer to any of the state’s public colleges or universities. —Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025

Police said the case is pending and may be grounds for additional charges and university disciplinary action. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025

Consult your local land-grant university programs or the National Weather Service for guidance. —Benjamin Vogt, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025

One was a 19-year-old university student from Kharkiv named Anna Kovalenko, who recently organized a series of musical and artistic gatherings called Imagination Space that drew hundreds of participants. —Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 19 Oct. 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