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

In all likelihood, Poitras will have at least one more preseason game at right wing to make his case to make the varsity for the third straight year out of camp. —Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 2 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

Zeroing in on racingcore, no less, the collection featured an edgy varsity jacket inspired by mechanics’ gear on the racetrack. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025

Hundreds of teens did so — but not my varsity lacrosse teammates. —Jack Korngold, Rolling Stone, 28 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