Ivy League

noun

1. a group of colleges and universities in the northeastern U.S., consisting of Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, the University of Pennsylvania, and Brown, having a reputation for high scholastic achievement and social prestige.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Ivy League colleges or their students and graduates.

Ivy League

noun

1. 1. a group of eight universities (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth College, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale) that have similar academic and social prestige in the US to Oxford and Cambridge in Britain
   2. ( as modifier )

      an Ivy-League education

Ivy League

1. A group of eight old, distinguished colleges and universities in the East, known for their ivy-covered brick buildings. The members of the Ivy League are Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale Universities; Dartmouth College; and the University of Pennsylvania.

Other Words From

• Ivy Leaguer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Ivy League¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

The Brown graduate said he adopted “the broken leg model” philosophy when he decided to enroll and remain at the Ivy League school.

From Los Angeles Times

Former St. John Bosco quarterback Caleb Sanchez, a freshman at Columbia, was named the Ivy League rookie of the week after passing for 241 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start.

From Los Angeles Times

It gave Harvard a 31-28 win over Penn and a share of the Ivy League title.

From Los Angeles Times

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ivy League graduate Hegseth has in recent years worked as a conservative commentator.

From BBC

What will today's Ivy League alums, caught in what Yale Law professor Daniel Markovits dubs "The Meritocracy Trap," decide to do about what Harvard political theorist Danielle Allen describes as "The Road to Serfdom"?

From Salon