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

The Iowa General Assembly is considering a bill that, if passed, would eliminate the voting student position on the Iowa Board of Regents and strip faculty senates from being able to exercise any governance authority at the state’s three public universities. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

The sector includes nursing, social assistance, private schools and universities. —Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026

New rules instituted last July enable universities to share millions in revenue with their athletes. —David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026

The administration has also made steep staffing and budget cuts to NASA's earth science programs and to the National Science Foundation (NSF), which funds climate work by researchers at universities and other institutions. —Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026

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