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

Jayden is a starter on the varsity football team as a sophomore, playing special teams. —Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Oct. 2025

The 19-year-old reports to the varsity right away for a handful of regular-season games. —Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

In Riverside County, two girls' cross country runners sued the Riverside Unified School district after a trans athlete took one of their varsity spots. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025

Carson was a senior at Washington High School and a member of its varsity football team, according to the Des Moines Register and the Southeast Iowa Union. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 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