university

noun

uni·​ver·​si·​ty ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-sə-tē How to pronounce university (audio)
-ˈvər-stē
plural universities
1
: an institution of higher learning providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees
specifically : one made up of an undergraduate division which confers bachelor's degrees and a graduate division which comprises a graduate school and professional schools each of which may confer master's degrees and doctorates
2
: the physical plant of a university

Examples of university in a Sentence

I applied to several public universities. He lives near the university.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Members are even ready to strike if necessary, the release said — an action that would effectively shut down the nation’s largest public university system. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 Dresden boasts of its strong Saxony region history in hardware engineering and its own technical university. — Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 In November, the committee found that Kil had likely violated some university policies but that the violations were not egregious enough to warrant her dismissal. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 From preschool through university, top-tier educational institutions anchor Ave Maria with an intellectual and cultural energy that enriches everyday life for residents of all ages. — Ave Maria, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for university

Word History

Etymology

Middle English universite, from Anglo-French université, from Medieval Latin universitat-, universitas, from Latin universus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of university was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing university

Rhymes for university

See All Rhymes for university

Browse Nearby Words

universitas rerum
university
University City
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“University.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/university. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

university

noun
uni·​ver·​si·​ty ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-sət-ē How to pronounce university (audio)
-ˈvər-stē
plural universities
: a school that offers courses leading to a degree (as a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree) and where research is done

More from Merriam-Webster on university

Nglish: Translation of university for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about university

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