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
Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Both Morehouse, which is located in Atlanta, and Tuskegee, which is in Alabama, are both renowned HBCU's, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Filmmaker Ashley Shanté pitched a Hollywood writers’ room on the idea of adding a character who graduated from a historically Black college or university (HBCU), and was met with steely silence.
—Joshua Alston, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Morgan State is the only HBCU in the country offering a Division I wrestling program.
—Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
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Noun
Shoates hopes the inaugural HBCU AwareFest can drum up more resources.
—Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Both Morehouse, which is located in Atlanta, and Tuskegee, which is in Alabama, are both renowned HBCU's, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Filmmaker Ashley Shanté pitched a Hollywood writers’ room on the idea of adding a character who graduated from a historically Black college or university (HBCU), and was met with steely silence.
—Joshua Alston, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Morgan State is the only HBCU in the country offering a Division I wrestling program.
—Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 17 Mar. 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 27 Mar. 2026.
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