baccalaureate

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noun bac·ca·lau·re·ate \ ˌba-kə-ˈlȯr-ē-ət , -ˈlär- \

Definition of baccalaureate

1 :the degree of bachelor conferred by universities and colleges

2 a :a sermon to a graduating class

b :the service at which this sermon is delivered

Recent Examples of baccalaureate from the Web

Igwebuike, doing a post-baccalaureate program, was named a second-team preseason All-American on Tuesday by the Associated Press.

— teddy greenstein, chicagotribune.com, "Northwestern's Godwin Igwebuike can sing. He can tackle. The NFL is watching," 22 Aug. 2017
Taylor also is a top student who was a member of Salem's international baccalaureate program.

— phil anastasia, Philly.com, "Salem's Jonathan Taylor is South Jersey's senior boys' athlete of the year," 17 June 2017
This is the third survey of Florida baccalaureate graduates, following a pilot report and an assessment of 2014 graduates.

— lloyd dunkelberger, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Florida class of '15 fares well in job market, study finds," 16 June 2017
According to a program from Opp High School, the baccalaureate service was held on a Saturday at 6 p.m. in the school's auditorium.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Atheists group has Alabama high school in its sights over graduation prayer," 13 June 2017
The goal of the Mentorship for Student Excellence program is to determine whether peer mentorship can play a role in improving academic achievement, economic efficiency, and baccalaureate degree completion for community college students.

— karen farkas, cleveland.com, "Hiram, Cuyahoga Community colleges to develop mentorship program," 9 June 2017
The ceremony, held May 28 at the Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace, included a baccalaureate address by Father Johnpaul Cafiero.

— pioneer press, chicagotribune.com, "Nazareth Academy graduates 190 students," 31 May 2017
Silvestri has a baccalaureate hotel and culinary art degree and a BTS: hotel management and culinary art degree from ESITEL School in Montpellier, France.

— miamiherald, "Senior-level hires and promotions for the week of May 15, 2017," 15 May 2017
Life before med school: The 2007 IUPUI graduate attended a post-baccalaureate premedical program at Harvard University and applied to medical school but did not get in.

— shari rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "It's a first for Marian: 133 new doctors," 7 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'baccalaureate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of baccalaureate

borrowed from Medieval Latin baccalaureātus, respelling (perhaps influenced by bacca laurī "laurel berry") of bacheleriātus, from bachelarius "knight lacking retainers, young clerk, person with an initial university degree" + Latin -ātus ²-ate — more at ¹bachelor

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1649

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Other Education Terms

colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

BACCALAUREATE Defined for English Language Learners

baccalaureate

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noun

Definition of baccalaureate for English Language Learners

: a test taken by students in France and some other countries in order to qualify for attending a university
: a sermon given to a class of graduating students at a school
: the service at which this sermon is given

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Spanish Central: Translation of baccalaureate Nglish: Translation of baccalaureate for Spanish speakers

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