semester

noun

se·​mes·​ter sə-ˈme-stər 

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

sə-ˈme-strəl 

adjective

or semestrial

sə-ˈme-strē-əl 

Examples of semester in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet this semester, many students at the historically Black medical school near downtown Atlanta have gone hungry, according to Mohnkern and Alisha Nkwonta. — Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Sirena Cantrell, dean of students and associate vice president of student affairs, expects another busy semester. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026

Zilke co-founded the arts organization after learning from LeBleu about the struggle to secure available stages for end-of-semester student performances. — Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026

Adjunct numbers have grown each year, quickly reaching the thousands, after 2022 when the state Legislature removed a limit on the number of hours these instructors could teach per semester. — Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing semester

• semester hour

Rhymes for semester

• ancestor
• arrester
• digester
• investor
• protester
• requester
• sequester
• silvester
• trimester
• ester
• esther
• fester

Kids Definition

semester

noun

se·​mes·​ter sə-ˈmes-tər 

: either of two terms of about 18 weeks each that make up a school year