undergraduate

[ uhn-der-graj-oo-it, -eyt ]

noun

1. a student in a university or college who has not received a first, especially a bachelor's, degree.

adjective

1. having the standing of an undergraduate.
2. of, for, pertaining to, or characteristic of undergraduates.

undergraduate

/ ˌʌndəˈɡrædjʊɪt /

noun

1. a person studying in a university for a first degree Sometimes shortened toundergrad

Derived Forms

• ˌunderˈgraduateship, noun

Other Words From

• under·gradu·ate·ship noun
• nonun·der·gradu·ate noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of undergraduate¹

First recorded in 1620–30; under- + graduate

Example Sentences

He developed the company's technology during his undergraduate studies in plant sciences at Penn State.

From Science Daily

The closure of two undergraduate courses at a university is "demoralising" to staff, a union has said.

From BBC

After completing primary and secondary school in Ghana, Bawumia moved to the UK for undergraduate study and went on to gain a masters in economics from the prestigious Oxford University.

From BBC

A diverse team of researchers that included graduate and undergraduate students contributed to the paper, along with faculty and a postdoctoral fellowship researcher.

From Science Daily

Tuition fees are rising for undergraduate students at universities in England for the first time in eight years.

From BBC

Related Words

• freshman
• junior
• senior
• sophomore
• student