varsity

noun

var·​si·​ty ˈvär-sə-tē 

-stē

plural varsities

1

a

: the principal squad representing a university, college, school, or club especially in a sport

b

: regular sense 1c

2

British : university

Examples of varsity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When Titus asked how the department is dividing its $20.5 million budget among 23 varsity sports in 2025-26, Heird said Louisville is investing in the following programs: football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball and baseball. —Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 9 Aug. 2025

Yorba Linda had not settled on a starting quarterback as of early August, with juniors Noah Trujillo, last year’s varsity backup, and Colin O’Connor, a transfer from Servite, competing for the role. —Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 7 Aug. 2025

In a study published in March 2025, my colleagues and I assessed more than 500 varsity and club sport athletes. —David B. Sarwer, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2025

Seventeen states now sanction girls’ flag football at the high school varsity level, and the sport will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

by shortening from university (with regular late Middle English opening of tautosyllabic er to ar)

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing varsity

• junior varsity

Rhymes for varsity

• sparsity
• intervarsity

Kids Definition

varsity

noun

var·​si·​ty ˈvär-sət-ē 

-stē

plural varsities

: the main team representing a college, school, or club in contests

Etymology

an altered form of versity, itself an old, shortened form of university