university

noun

uni·​ver·​si·​ty ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-sə-tē 

-ˈvər-stē

plural universities

1

: an institution of higher learning providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees

specifically : one made up of an undergraduate division which confers bachelor's degrees and a graduate division which comprises a graduate school and professional schools each of which may confer master's degrees and doctorates

2

: the physical plant of a university

Examples of university in a Sentence

I applied to several public universities.

He lives near the university.

Recent Examples on the Web

As for the First Amendment, the university’s commitment to free speech did not extend to people talking about Damsky’s speech. —Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025

Over the past 20 years, budgets for non-revenue sports at universities across college sports, including at Power 4 Conferences, the Group of Six Conferences, NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Conferences and all others, has remained consistent. —Cory Mull, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

The team is launching a new alumni program—akin to university efforts—to bring past stars back to town and expand the benefits of a stint in northwestern Pennsylvania. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 27 June 2025

The administration has also picked high-profile fights with elite private universities including Harvard and Columbia, accusing them of antisemitism related to protests against Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English universite, from Anglo-French université, from Medieval Latin universitat-, universitas, from Latin universus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing university

• anti-university
• go to university
• inter-university
• pre-university
• state university

Rhymes for university

• adversity
• diversity
• perversity
• biodiversity
• polydispersity

Kids Definition

university

noun

uni·​ver·​si·​ty ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-sət-ē 

-ˈvər-stē

plural universities

: a school that offers courses leading to a degree (as a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree) and where research is done