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

Academics Oregon started its winter semester on Monday. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026

In addition to being a doctoral student in his first semester, Kohberger was a teaching assistant at the university and also lived in graduate student housing in Pullman. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026

Back home between semesters his freshman year in college, stoned every day, he was lost. —Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026

Philosophy professor Martin Peterson submitted the syllabus for his Contemporary Moral Issues class for the spring 2026 semester to department leadership for review during the school’s winter break. —Samuel O'Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 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