postgraduate

1 of 2

adjective

post·​grad·​u·​ate ˌpōs(t)-ˈgra-jə-wət 

-ˌwāt,

-ˈgraj-wət

: of, relating to, or engaged in formal studies after graduation : graduate

postgraduate

2 of 2

noun

: a student continuing formal education after graduation from high school or college

Examples of postgraduate in a Sentence

Adjective

After college, she spent her first postgraduate year studying abroad.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In addition to the crown and new title, Donegan won more than $70,000 in scholarships through the Miss America program, which will help finance her undergraduate and postgraduate education. —Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025

Letícia Paul, who had recently earned her law degree and was pursuing postgraduate studies in real estate and business law, went into anaphylactic shock moments after receiving an iodinated contrast dye, Jam Press reported. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2025

Noun

Today, most members of the Chinese elite have a background in management, while the country’s leader, Xi Jinping, has an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering and a postgraduate degree in law — the Marxist version. —Andy Browne, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025

Kitagawa thanked his family, colleagues, students and fellow postgraduate researchers at a news conference at Kyoto University. —Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1858, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for postgraduate

• graduate
• undergraduate

Kids Definition

postgraduate

1 of 2 adjective

post·​grad·​u·​ate (ˈ)pōst-ˈgraj-(ə-)wət 

-ə-ˌwāt

: of, relating to, or engaged in formal studies after graduation : graduate entry 2 sense 2

postgraduate

2 of 2 noun

: a student continuing his or her education after graduation