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

Her team at the law firm of King & Spalding will also assess Cornell's practices against federal and state laws and examine whether the university followed its own procedures in responding to the Chi Phi allegations. — Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026

The commercial-grade observatory, similar to those found on some university campuses, is a defining feature of the three-story, six-bedroom, nine-bathroom home, according to listing agent Shawn Byrne of Ron Byrne & Associates. — Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026

If eventually scheduled for a vote and approved, the resolution would send a symbolic but still powerful message to the university's leaders. — Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026

Sweden files more patents per person than almost every other European country, hosts four of the world’s top 130 universities, and is ranked by the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organization as the second most innovative economy on earth. — Jan Larsson, Fortune, 9 Oct. 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