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

Forrest had two goals for Hayden’s high school career — score a touchdown on varsity and make a basket on varsity. — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Henley’s face lit up when talking about the 10 girls on varsity high school baseball teams in the Bay Area. — Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026

American Heritage head coach Mike Smith was the school’s running backs coach when Fletcher joined the varsity team as an eighth grader. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026

Oduwa eventually got called up to varsity as a sophomore, whether his skills had caught up to his physical traits or not. — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 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