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

The university also reportedly suspended or expelled nearly 80 students and vowed to proactively fight antisemitism through several concrete measures. —Michele Chabin, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2025

By accepting the civil-discourse credential, the university can make that aspect of the process more objective and share responsibility with an external organization. —Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2025

Shared governance is critical to the functioning of a college or university, said Teresa Klein, vice president of the American Association of University Professors in Texas. —Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Aug. 2025

Three decades later, the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University was established in recognition of the entrepreneur, music mogul and philanthropist's significant contributions and support of the university's music program. —Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 15 Aug. 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