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

Pieces in the collection include a patch varsity jacket, loafers and Filling Pieces T-shirts and caps. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 13 Nov. 2025

Anna Marie Kepner was a senior and member of the varsity cheerleading squad at Temple Christian School, a private K-12 Baptist school in Titusville, Florida, about 40 miles east of Orlando, Fox News Digital reported previously. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 13 Nov. 2025

As a sophomore, Cole was the starting quarterback from the varsity team at Orem High School in Orem, Utah, per Bret’s Instagram. —Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025

Because Kansas has hit a 24-school threshold with girls flag football, one school district has prepared a proposal to sanction it as a varsity sport. —Jesse Newell, New York Times, 11 Nov. 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