baccalaureate

[ bak-uh-lawr-ee-it, -lor- ]

noun

1. bachelor's degree.
2. a religious service held at an educational institution, usually on the Sunday before commencement day.
3. baccalaureate sermon.

baccalaureate

/ ˌbækəˈlɔːrɪɪt /

noun

1. the university degree of Bachelor or Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc
2. an internationally recognized programme of study, comprising different subjects, offered as an alternative to a course of A levels in Britain
3. a farewell sermon delivered at the commencement ceremonies in many colleges and universities

Other Words From

• postbac·ca·laure·ate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of baccalaureate¹

1615–25; < Medieval Latin baccalaureātus, equivalent to baccalaure ( us ) advanced student, bachelor (for baccalārius ( bachelor ), alteration by association with Latin phrase bacca laureus laurel berry) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of baccalaureate¹

C17: from Medieval Latin baccalaureātus , from baccalaureus advanced student, alteration of baccalārius bachelor ; influenced in folk etymology by Latin bāca berry + laureus laurel

Example Sentences

A nondenominational, interfaith baccalaureate was scheduled for that night in Bovard Auditorium — near the site of the current encampment.

From Los Angeles Times

The experience of college-level science courses, the completion of baccalaureate or more advanced degrees, and the development of civic scientific literacy were strong predictors of increased acceptance of evolution.

From Science Daily

I had an elite Ivy League journalism degree and he held a baccalaureate in journalism from Cal State Long Beach and, before joining The Times, had been running a silk-screening business.

From Los Angeles Times

So what is a baccalaureate and what could a British version look like?

From BBC

The airframe manufacturing technology program broke ground as among the first such baccalaureate programs in the state.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• class
• credit
• grade
• honor
• level
• magnitude
• point
• position
• qualification
• quality
• scope
• sort
• standard
• status
• strength