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 Securities and Exchange Commission in 2022 said Charlebois used investor money to cover his child’s university tuition and pay for family trips to Colorado and Florida. —Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026

And thank you to the staff who have supported me during my time at the university. —Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 6 Jan. 2026

That means candidates from prestigious universities that are located close to a company’s headquarters are typically given priority, according to Chelsea Schein, Veris’s vice president of research strategy, the Wall Street Journal reported. —Jake Angelo, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026

The payments were announced amid widespread protests that included merchants, traders and university students, according to the Times. —Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 6 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