dean's list

American  

noun

• dean's lists
  plural

1. a list of students of high scholastic standing, compiled by a college or university usually at the end of each semester or academic year.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dean's lists
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dean's list

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dean's list

Good made the dean’s list that year, according to a school post.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026

He consistently made the dean’s list at the College of Business at Oregon State University in Corvallis and graduated third in his class in 1965.

From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2023

Jurinek was a junior at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he was studying art and media and was on the dean’s list this semester.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 7, 2021

He was a dean’s list student and graduated in 1956.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 10, 2020

When she made the dean’s list, he celebrated.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times