university

American  

[yoo-nuh-vur-si-tee] / ˌyu nəˈvɜr sɪ ti /

noun

plural

universities

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.

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university British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• antiuniversity adjective
• counteruniversity noun
• interuniversity adjective
• nonuniversity noun
• preuniversity adjective
• prouniversity adjective
• universitarian noun

Etymology

Origin of university

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

Compare meaning

How does university compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• State College vs. university

Example Sentences

Two Welsh universities, Swansea and Wrexham, provide the BSc paramedic science courses, with around 70 students expected to graduate this summer.

From BBC

He joined the party at university and married one of its rising stars in Judit Varga, with whom he had three children.

From BBC

The country’s top universities require it to access their Wi-Fi network.

From The Wall Street Journal

At the same time, other universities are joining the trend.

From Los Angeles Times

Alex McCarthy, a university student who works part-time in a pub, says he is feeling "very, very happy" about the rise.

From BBC

Related Words

• academy
• institution
• school