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

Sammi Ekmark Co-founder, Ink’d Greetings While many student athletes are forced to play catch-up after university, Ekmark says that the qualities that make a great athlete are the same qualities that make a great entrepreneur. —Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 17 Nov. 2025

Russia was the favorite, as chess boxing is a sport at over 500 schools and universities there, Thomas said. —Heather Abbott, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025

As Indiana University navigates a host of First Amendment controversies and criticisms, President Pamela Whitten is asking the faculty council to consider installing a set of guiding principles regarding how the university upholds its free speech environment. —Cate Charron, IndyStar, 17 Nov. 2025

The only concession made to the university’s teaching staff was that the original title—Chair of Human Civilization—was changed to Chair of Social Anthropology. —Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 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