semester

1 of 2

noun

se·​mes·​ter sə-ˈme-stər How to pronounce semester (audio)
1
: either of the two usually 18-week periods of instruction into which an academic year is often divided
2
: a period of six months
semestral
sə-ˈme-strəl How to pronounce semester (audio)
adjective
or semestrial
sə-ˈme-strē-əl How to pronounce semester (audio)

semestral

2 of 2

adjective

se·​mes·​tral -strəl How to pronounce semestral (audio)
variants or semestrial
-ˌtrēəl How to pronounce semestral (audio)
: occurring every six months or within a period of six months : of or relating to a six-month period

Examples of semester in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Your garage was dotted with such odds and ends from his semesters’ past. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026 Correspondence documents Donalson’s request for a different placement and the school’s offer of a teacher change for second semester. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Students spent the semester examining the statewide propositions on the November ballot, researching their potential effects and compiling their findings into a 268-page report available online. — James Taylor, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 The program can be completed in as little as eight weeks and is usually done in one semester, Davidson said. — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for semester

Word History

Etymology

Noun

German, from Latin semestris half-yearly, from sex six + mensis month — more at six, moon

Adjective

Latin semestris half-yearly + English -al or -ial

First Known Use

Noun

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of semester was in 1827

Phrases Containing semester

Rhymes for semester

See All Rhymes for semester

Browse Nearby Words

Semeostoma
semester
semester hour
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Cite this Entry

“Semester.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semester. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

semester

noun
se·​mes·​ter sə-ˈmes-tər How to pronounce semester (audio)
: either of two terms of about 18 weeks each that make up a school year
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