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

The alleged abuse began when Romain was 14 years old and thrilled to be the only freshman member of the school’s varsity water polo team, the suit states. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026

The Faith Christian School girls' varsity basketball team just won it all for the second year in a row. —Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026

There are no varsity quarterbacks or Olympic hopefuls among these quirkmasters, just a heaping of outcasts who believe their lot in life rests on words like capybara and tittup. —David John Chávez, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026

As a varsity starter at first base, Aubrey embodies the spirit of a true student-athlete. —Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2026

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