undergraduate

noun

un·​der·​grad·​u·​ate ˌən-dər-ˈgra-jə-wət 

-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

Two months later, the University of Notre Dame enhanced its financial aid so that undergraduates with annual household income below $150,000 would have all their tuition costs covered starting with the upcoming academic year. — Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

After attending Vassar for two years as an undergraduate, Bourdain dropped out to enroll in the CIA. — Samantha Bergeson, Vanity Fair, 7 Aug. 2026

Per the system’s multi-year compact with the state, the UC must increase California undergraduate enrollment by at least 1 percent annually to receive state funding increases. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Walker and nearly 10 other undergraduate Gophers are working to find answers. — Frankie McLister, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for undergraduate

• postgraduate
• graduate

Kids Definition

undergraduate

noun

un·​der·​grad·​u·​ate ˌən-dər-ˈgraj-(ə-)wət 

-ə-ˌwāt

: a student at a college or university who has not yet received a degree