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

Still, experts warn that final numbers remain uncertain and universities still face months of volatility.

From Ozy

Government funding can speed commercialization by supporting research at universities, federal laboratories, and private companies.

From MIT Technology Review

Researchers at Oxford and a university spin-off company Vaccitech started with a weakened version of an adenovirus that causes colds in chimpanzees.

From Science News

The university is embracing a mix of many online courses and a smaller number – about 12 percent of the total – of in-person classes.

From Voice of San Diego

Some 81% of tech employees and university students say they believe big technology firms need more regulation, according to a study conducted by Index Ventures and Qualtrics between May and June.

From Fortune

“I have to think her body type played a role,” said Rachel Greenblatt, a Lecturer in Jewish Studies at Harvard University.

From The Daily Beast

For years, Brooke even had trouble finding a publisher for his memoir, which was ultimately accepted by Rutgers University Press.

From The Daily Beast

David Greenberg at Rutgers University has a book coming out next year on political spin.

From The Daily Beast

“The origin of Brokpas is lost in antiquity,” a research article from the University of Delhi notes.

From The Daily Beast

The zoologist at University of Tubingen in Germany gave a bunch of spiders some LSD.

From The Daily Beast

These schools became affiliated Universities, but never equalled the Law University in importance.

From Project Gutenberg

He was rector of the university of Ilfeldt 40 years, and published several learned works.

From Project Gutenberg

The scene and field of that learning hitherto has been, in our Western communities, the University.

From Project Gutenberg

John Thornton Kirkland, president of Harvard university, died, aged 70.

From Project Gutenberg

They will carry out the dictum of Carlyle that the modern university is a university of books.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• academy
• institution
• school