semester

noun se·mes·ter \ sə-ˈme-stər \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of semester

1 :either of the two usually 18-week periods of instruction into which an academic year is often divided

2 :a period of six months

—

semestral

play \sə-ˈme-strəl\ or semestrial play \sə-ˈme-strē-əl\ adjective

See semester defined for English-language learners

See semester defined for kids

Recent Examples of semester from the Web

Burrows said the university undermined the campaign by stripping voting rights from students who were not teaching during the semester and took a combative stance from the beginning.

— danielle douglas-gabriel, Washington Post, "Graduate students won right to organize as employees, but that victory is in peril under Trump," 24 Aug. 2017
Just 10 days after violent clashes tore across Charlottesville, Virginia, college students there headed to their first day of classes of the fall semester.

— kara voght, The Atlantic, "UVA's Troubling Past," 23 Aug. 2017
Among those found guilty of policy violations by a panel made up of a student, a staff member, and a faculty member, three students received one-year suspensions; two received one-semester suspensions; and two were put on conduct probation.

— conor friedersdorf, The Atlantic, "Suspensions for College Students Who Thwarted Free Speech," 19 July 2017
His is a homegrown edition that, like a college kid who studied abroad for one semester, has the cockiness of having traveled halfway around the world.

— john birdsall, Bon Appetit, "Why Are We Still Talking About Avocado Toast?," 19 July 2017
That means the state will pay all tuition and fees for Florida Academic Scholars — students with a minimum 3.5 GPA, 100 volunteer hours and at least a 1290 on the SAT — for the upcoming fall, spring and summer semesters.

— alex harris, miamiherald, "Top Bright Futures scholars will have full tuition covered this year (including summer)," 14 July 2017
If time in semester permits, students will dabble in use of cornichons and castelvetranos.

— The Hive, "The Worst Take of the Week? David Brooks Slammed for “Sandwich Shop” Elitism," 12 July 2017
If time in semester permits, students will dabble in use of cornichons and castelvetranos.

— vanityfair.com, "The Worst Take of the Week? David Brooks Slammed for “Sandwich Shop” Elitism," 12 July 2017
Freshmen have been in Bloomington for the best part of a month, and at the end of this one, everybody will be sent home for a brief break, before the fall semester begins.

— zach osterman, The Courier-Journal, "Insider: Archie Miller 'anxious' as his first IU team takes shape," 11 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of semester

German, from Latin semestris half-yearly, from sex six + mensis month — more at six, moon

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1827

See Words from the same year

Other Education Terms

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

SEMESTER Defined for English Language Learners

semester

noun

Definition of semester for English Language Learners

: one of two usually 18-week periods that make up an academic year at a school or college

SEMESTER Defined for Kids

semester

noun se·mes·ter \ sə-ˈme-stər \

Definition of semester for Students

:either of two terms that make up a school year

Learn More about semester

See words that rhyme with semester Spanish Central: Translation of semester Nglish: Translation of semester for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of semester for Arabic speakers

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semester

Definition of semester

semestral

Recent Examples of semester from the Web

Origin and Etymology of semester

Other Education Terms

SEMESTER Defined for English Language Learners

semester

Definition of semester for English Language Learners

SEMESTER Defined for Kids

semester

Definition of semester for Students

Learn More about semester

Seen and Heard

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semester

Definition of semester

semestral

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Recent Examples of semester from the Web

Origin and Etymology of semester

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SEMESTER Defined for English Language Learners

semester

Definition of semester for English Language Learners

SEMESTER Defined for Kids

semester

Definition of semester for Students

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