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

What drives me is what do our players do to impact this university, this community and their families. —Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025

Yet it must be acknowledged that the impetus for the freezing of federal dollars for certain universities was a crisis for Jewish students, caused by the failure of college administrators to counter antisemitism and the harassment of Jews on campus. —Christian Schneider, National Review, 17 Apr. 2025

America demands more from universities entrusted with taxpayer dollars. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025

In January, the university settled two lawsuits alleging anti-Jewish and anti-Israel discrimination. —Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 16 Apr. 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