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

Filming began in spring, with the university confirming the project. —Cecil Merkerson, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025

Barron's first year at the university was marked by Donald's election win in November and his subsequent inauguration in January 2025 — as well as the standard social and academic challenges a college freshman might face. —Linda Marx, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025

For the past five years, university leaders have repeatedly urged Congress to intervene in the increasingly chaotic college sports landscape—specifically by establishing a national framework for NIL compensation and limiting additional labor rights for college athletes. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2025

That includes some taxable munis from universities looking to drum up additional funding. —Michelle Fox, CNBC, 25 Aug. 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