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
Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Plus, hosts Nedra Rhone, Najja Parker and DeAsia Paige share the latest on the rebrand of legendary HBCU spring break bash Orange Crush, and wax poetic on Bad Bunny’s Afro-Caribbean connections.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 18 Feb. 2026
And this year, the HBCU Classic between Hampton and North Carolina A&T Friday night at the Forum had plenty of folks talking.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Eleven Texas schools will get their own nights and the Rangers will also host an HBCU night.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
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Noun
In 2021 inducted in North Carolina’s HBCU Living Legend Hall of Fame.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Plus, hosts Nedra Rhone, Najja Parker and DeAsia Paige share the latest on the rebrand of legendary HBCU spring break bash Orange Crush, and wax poetic on Bad Bunny’s Afro-Caribbean connections.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 18 Feb. 2026
And this year, the HBCU Classic between Hampton and North Carolina A&T Friday night at the Forum had plenty of folks talking.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Eleven Texas schools will get their own nights and the Rangers will also host an HBCU night.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 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 23 Feb. 2026.
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