varsity

noun

var·​si·​ty ˈvär-sə-tē How to pronounce varsity (audio)
-stē
plural varsities
1
a
: the principal squad representing a university, college, school, or club especially in a sport
2
British : university

Examples of varsity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Those 55 high school wrestlers consist of the varsity and the junior varsity. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 28 Feb. 2024 Nearly 70 Greendale High School students, members of Greendale High School's varsity cheer team and Greendale High School's Pep Band, collaborated to compete as part of Greendale High School's Game Day LIVE! Alec Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 12 Feb. 2024 Long Reach boys basketball senior RJ Barnes Jr. is a multi-year varsity starter. Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024 The youngest of the group is Nadia, a 14 year old freshman starting on varsity. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Feb. 2024 And in November, Kylie, 31, modeled a kelly green Eagles varsity jacket, which has regal connections, that ended up being sold for $100,000 in an auction benefiting the Eagles Autism Foundation, according to the Philly Voice. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024 Kearney, 43, was head coach of the Spalding High School varsity football team in Griffin, according to the school’s athletics website. Makiya Seminera, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2024 Born June 22, 1947 in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Pete Maravich began playing varsity basketball at Louisiana State University in the 1967-68 season. Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2024 There was no 3-point line, no shot clock and freshmen couldn’t play varsity. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'varsity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

by shortening from university (with regular late Middle English opening of tautosyllabic er to ar)

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of varsity was in 1646

Dictionary Entries Near varsity

Cite this Entry

“Varsity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/varsity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

varsity

noun
var·​si·​ty ˈvär-sət-ē How to pronounce varsity (audio)
-stē
plural varsities
: the main team representing a college, school, or club in contests
Etymology

an altered form of versity, itself an old, shortened form of university

More from Merriam-Webster on varsity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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