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

With so much varsity experience back for a program known for its grit and hard-hitting style, the Vanguards should be in the hunt for one of the league’s three automatic playoff berths. — Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 10 Aug. 2026

The connected sports performance center supports 16 of Pitt’s 19 varsity teams with strength and conditioning, sports medicine, nutrition, recovery and mental-health resources. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026

The Porter County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday honored the Kouts varsity baseball team for its Division 1A championship earlier this summer. — Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

The partnership secures Antero’s logo on the home and away jerseys of all 18 WVU varsity sports and marks the first uniform sponsorship patch in school history. — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 7 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