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

Per the Harrison Wrestling Facebook page, Giordano played football and wrestled varsity at 220 lbs. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024

They were allotted a tiny corner; the rest was taken up by lap swimmers and, for a time, by members of the U.C.L.A. women’s varsity swimming team. —Sarah Lyall Daniel Dorsa, New York Times, 6 June 2024

On the diamond: Lutz and Williams give the Raiders experience as three-year varsity starters. —Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024

Milan demonstrates leadership through roles such as president of the National Honors Society, president of Link Crew, and varsity captain for track and field. —Marcus Reichley, The Arizona Republic, 13 May 2024

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

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