undergraduate

noun

un·​der·​grad·​u·​ate ˌən-dər-ˈgra-jə-wət How to pronounce undergraduate (audio)
-ˌwāt;
-ˈgraj-wət
: a student at a college or university who has not received a first and especially a bachelor's degree
undergraduate adjective

Examples of undergraduate in a Sentence

a group of college undergraduates
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Helping patients means helping nurses After getting her undergraduate degree in nursing from the University of Cincinnati, Holt began working as a clinical nurse in the neuroscience unit at UC Health, then called University of Cincinnati Hospital. Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Oct. 2025 San Diego State University recently created an undergraduate program in AI that will begin operating next year. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025 Consider that the annual average costs for an undergraduate degree range from $24,920 for in-state public universities to $58,000 for private universities. Rodney Coates, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2025 The band was formed in the spring by Del Lyren, the school’s undergraduate adviser and enrollment manager. Sophia Arndt, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for undergraduate

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of undergraduate was in 1630

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Cite this Entry

“Undergraduate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undergraduate. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

undergraduate

noun
un·​der·​grad·​u·​ate ˌən-dər-ˈgraj-(ə-)wət How to pronounce undergraduate (audio)
-ə-ˌwāt
: a student at a college or university who has not yet received a degree

More from Merriam-Webster on undergraduate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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