HBCU
Americanabbreviation
Usage
What is HBCU? HBCU stands for historically black colleges and universities, which were established before the landmark Civil Rights Act in 1964 and with the ongoing mission of educating Black Americans. How is term pronounced?[ eych-bee-see-yoo ]
Etymology
Origin of HBCU
First recorded in 1980–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Doc attended Delaware State University, an HBCU, where he majored in mass communications.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
He began coaching just this season, serving as running backs coach at Colorado under Deion Sanders — another coach who cut his teeth at an HBCU, Jackson State.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 1, 2025
“For an HBCU, the bands are part of the culture, they’re part of the lifestyle,” Webber said.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 12, 2023
Four submitted proposals, and in January the Air Force chose Howard, arguably the best known HBCU, as the lead institute in a consortium of eight HBCUs that will operate RITA.
From Science Magazine ● Jun. 22, 2023
“And I’m not saying this because I’m at a Black HBCU, I say it wherever I go.”
From Washington Times ● May 13, 2023
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
