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
Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 30 Jan. 2026
It is grounded in legacy, relationships, and a deep understanding of the HBCU mission.
—Essence, 27 Jan. 2026
Institutional stability requires collaboration among presidents, trustees, and national support organizations, including UNCF and other organizations working across the HBCU sector.
—Marybeth Gasman, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
The school’s band, The ROAR, will compete alongside six other HBCU bands, including Florida A&M’s Marching 100, and is expected to receive $50,000 in scholarship funds.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
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Noun
Through the partnership, the HBCU’s basketball team is also developing a new content series for brand partners and using accurate ROI attribution to expand commercial conversations.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 30 Jan. 2026
It is grounded in legacy, relationships, and a deep understanding of the HBCU mission.
—Essence, 27 Jan. 2026
Institutional stability requires collaboration among presidents, trustees, and national support organizations, including UNCF and other organizations working across the HBCU sector.
—Marybeth Gasman, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
The school’s band, The ROAR, will compete alongside six other HBCU bands, including Florida A&M’s Marching 100, and is expected to receive $50,000 in scholarship funds.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 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 6 Feb. 2026.
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