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

But at its best, this push to immediately bring back these tests is a disservice to both the mission of our public universities and the remaining classes of kids who lost learning during the pandemic. — Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Top universities are missing middle-class students College aid officials talk a lot these days about a demographic phenomenon variously called the missing middle, the doughnut or the barbell. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 8 July 2026

When success is measured primarily through deliverables, students naturally gravitate toward tools that maximize efficiency, a reality documented by The Guardian in its deep dive into the university AI cheating crisis. — Jason Benedict, Fortune, 7 July 2026

Northwestern University received more than 53,000 applications for the Class of 2029 and maintained an admission rate near 7%, underscoring sustained demand for a university that combines top-tier academics with Big Ten culture. — Dr. Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 7 July 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