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

After playing varsity baseball at Jackson Heights’ Garden School, Pichardo got offers to play Division I softball, including from some SEC schools. — Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 27 July 2026

Gilliard-Robinson had been on the Garinger High varsity basketball team in the 22-23 season, according to Garinger Athletic Zone. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026

Expanding the partnership creates new opportunities for SRM Concrete, a ready-mix concrete producer, to engage directly with Commodore athletes through name, image and likeness initiatives across the university’s 17 varsity teams. — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 24 July 2026

According to the document, varsity sports are not eligible for conference play during a new school's first year. — Arkansas Online, 16 July 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