varsity

noun

var·​si·​ty ˈvär-sə-tē 

-stē

plural varsities

1

a

: the principal squad representing a university, college, school, or club especially in a sport

b

: regular sense 1c

2

British : university

Examples of varsity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Today, the school boasts 31 varsity sports teams. —Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026

The team will begin as a club program this fall during the 2026-27 academic year before transitioning to varsity status, according to the university. —Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2026

Rainey, a freshman who saw most of his varsity playing time as a pitcher and made eight appearances on the mound this season, took advantage of a rare start in right field and got the Caravan rolling with an RBI single in the second inning. —Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026

Pruitt also ran varsity cross-country and track and spent last summer interning for the Henry County Water Authority, tapping into his passion for clean water and the environment. —Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

by shortening from university (with regular late Middle English opening of tautosyllabic er to ar)

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing varsity

• junior varsity

Rhymes for varsity

• sparsity
• intervarsity

Kids Definition

varsity

noun

var·​si·​ty ˈvär-sət-ē 

-stē

plural varsities

: the main team representing a college, school, or club in contests

Etymology

an altered form of versity, itself an old, shortened form of university