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

Shipman emphasized law enforcement officers must present a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena to access non-public areas of the university, including residence halls, classrooms and buildings requiring Columbia University ID card access. —Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026

According to Gaber, the university chancellor, Charlotte didn’t open the search until after the transfer portal closed in mid-January, but zeroed in on White after receiving interest from more than 100 candidates. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026

The decision, enacted with no public explanation, spurred immediate protest among students who believed the university buckled under political pressure. —Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026

Beijing’s massive education investments have helped to create dozens of elite institutions, pushing Chinese universities up the global rankings. —Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 27 Feb. 2026

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