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

This was a player who was so good in high school that his coach regretted not making an exception to his longstanding rule against playing freshmen on varsity. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026

On a senior-laden team with high expectations last season, there was no time for a sophomore like him to dip his feet into the pool to test the water at the varsity level. — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Fasshauer is the varsity girls' volleyball coach at South Central High School in Union Mills. — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

There’s Jaden Jefferson, Jaden Walk-Green, Jaden Bynum, Jayden Steeber, Jayden Rodriguez and Jaiden Sapp on varsity. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 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