university

[yoo-nuh-vur-si-tee]

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.

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 Word Forms

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

Currently, all universities in England and Wales charge a fee of £9,535 for an undergraduate degree and the regulator stressed that any changes over fees were for government to decide.

From BBC

Wiener’s letter urged UC leaders to fight the government’s demands as the university negotiates with the DOJ.

From Los Angeles Times

The news organizations verified the data, including by soliciting input from professors at universities in Texas.

From Salon

She said the university introduced the new braided careers programme after noticing that it was struggling to recruit to the course, and that the access to the subject in schools was declining.

From BBC

Alan Garber, president of the college, said no government "should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue".

From BBC

Related Words

• academy 
• institution 
• school