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
Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
Wright University, a fictional HBCU located in her home state of Georgia.
—Jihan Forbes, Allure, 29 Oct. 2025
The school has since expanded and been renamed Florida Memorial University and is South Florida’s only HBCU.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Rapper Jeezy is set to headline the fourth annual HBCU Pop Out festival at Tennessee State University.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Oct. 2025
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Noun
Through its Show Your HBCU Spirit initiative, Diageo continued its investment in the next generation of changemakers, highlighting HBCU pride while supporting programs like Learning Skills for Life, a free bartending and mixology certification for underrepresented communities.
—Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
Wright University, a fictional HBCU located in her home state of Georgia.
—Jihan Forbes, Allure, 29 Oct. 2025
The school has since expanded and been renamed Florida Memorial University and is South Florida’s only HBCU.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Rapper Jeezy is set to headline the fourth annual HBCU Pop Out festival at Tennessee State University.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for HBCU
Cite this Entry
“HBCU.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/HBCU. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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