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

For modern undergraduates, studying abroad has proven to be an effective way to get outside their comfort zones, improving their GPAs, increasing their likelihood of staying in college, and equipping them with the skills employers value. —Brian Harfe, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026

But if their time unemployed continues to rise, would-be undergraduates might begin to rethink the value of their investment, the report suggests. —Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2026

Ivy League schools do not allow athletes to compete as graduate students, so having earned his undergraduate degree, Gaffney entered his name into the transfer portal. —Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026

Princeton’s first-year undergraduate class made history this year for having the most low-income students ever — a quarter are eligible for Pell Grants. —Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for undergraduate

• graduate
• postgraduate

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