university

[ yoo-nuh-vur-si-tee ]

noun

, plural u·ni·ver·si·ties.

1. an institution of learning of the highest level, having a college of liberal arts and a program of graduate studies together with several professional schools, as of theology, law, medicine, and engineering, and authorized to confer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Continental European universities usually have only graduate or professional schools.

university

/ ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsɪtɪ /

noun

1. an institution of higher education having authority to award bachelors' and higher degrees, usually having research facilities
2. the buildings, members, staff, or campus of a university

Other Words From

• u·ni·ver·si·tar·i·an [yoo-n, uh, -vur-si-, tair, -ee-, uh, n], noun adjective
• anti·uni·versi·ty adjective noun
• counter·uni·versi·ty noun plural counteruniversities
• inter·uni·versi·ty adjective
• nonu·ni·versi·ty noun plural nonuniversities adjective
• preu·ni·versi·ty adjective
• prou·ni·versi·ty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of university¹

1250–1300; Middle English universite < Old French < Medieval Latin ūniversitās, Late Latin: guild, corporation, Latin: totality, equivalent to ūnivers ( us ) ( universe ) + -itās -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of university¹

C14: from Old French universite, from Medieval Latin universitās group of scholars, from Late Latin: guild, society, body of men, from Latin: whole, totality, universe

Example Sentences

A university spokesperson said students would be updated in due course.

From BBC

The second miracle attributed to Mr Acutis came in 2024, when a university student in Florence was healed despite having bleeding on the brain after suffering head trauma.

From BBC

To address this problem, residents began to explore community-led projects with the help of community federations, NPOs, social welfare organizations, the government, and universities.

From Science Daily

The school has been affiliated with more than 160 Nobel Prize winners, by far the most of any U.S. college or university.

From Los Angeles Times

“Higher education and our colleges and universities work hard every day to build America and improve lives,” he said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• academy
• institution
• school