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

Huang, also a professional military strategist and university professor, told the Washington Examiner that his party sees the DPP’s posturing as a cynical move to build domestic support without considering the long-term consequences. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025

In Indiana, a number of teachers, university staff members and other government employees are being shamed on social media for comments critical of Kirk's controversial speech or making light of his death. —Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 15 Sep. 2025

In return, both universities accepted terms that expand federal oversight of their admissions processes and campus governance, marking a shift in how the government interacts with universities. —Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Assembly Bill 7 would allow public universities in California to consider giving admissions preference to applicants who are descendants of American chattel slavery. —Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 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