plural HBCUs
: a college or university in the U.S. established before 1964 for African American students : a historically Black college or university
the state's largest HBCU
Note: The term HBCU was created as a federal designation during the 1986 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which expanded federal funding for colleges and universities.
historically Black colleges and universities
Examples of HBCU in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Irene Wright, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Between 2015 and 2019, the average Ivy League school received 178 times as much philanthropic funding as the average HBCU, according to a study by Candid.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Broadhurst was a defensive lineman who appeared in 28 games during his time at the HBCU.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Like the founder of Vista Equity Partners, who is celebrating today with a sizable donation of money and books to HBCU students at 19 different schools.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for HBCU
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Noun
The tradition has carried on, however, as an unsanctioned event on the beach for decades, and has primarily been marketed to HBCU students in the southeast.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Between 2015 and 2019, the average Ivy League school received 178 times as much philanthropic funding as the average HBCU, according to a study by Candid.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Broadhurst was a defensive lineman who appeared in 28 games during his time at the HBCU.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Like the founder of Vista Equity Partners, who is celebrating today with a sizable donation of money and books to HBCU students at 19 different schools.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for HBCU
Cite this Entry
“HBCU.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/HBCU. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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