intercollegiate

American  

[in-ter-kuh-lee-jit, -jee-it] / ˌɪn tər kəˈli dʒɪt, -dʒi ɪt /

adjective

1. taking place between or participating in activities between different colleges.

   intercollegiate athletics.

2. of, relating to, or representative of two or more colleges.

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intercollegiate British  

/ ˌɪntəkəˈliːdʒɪɪt /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or conducted between two or more colleges or universities

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Etymology

Origin of intercollegiate

First recorded in 1870–75; inter- + collegiate

Explanation

Something that's intercollegiate occurs between different colleges. At an intercollegiate debate competition, there are teams from many schools competing against each other. You'll almost always find the adjective intercollegiate describing sports, or occasionally scholarly rivalries, between colleges or universities. An intercollegiate baseball association is made up of teams from many different colleges, and an intercollegiate lacrosse tournament also includes a variety of schools. Intercollegiate is made up of inter-, "among or between," and collegiate, from Medieval Latin collegiatus, "pertaining to a college."

Example Sentences

“At a time of tremendous turbulence within the intercollegiate athletics enterprise, we are making a strong statement that St. Bonaventure continues to be on the forefront of change,” Beretta said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2024

Tennessee’s law states that compensation cannot be provided in exchange for athletic performance in order to “maintain a clear separation between amateur intercollegiate athletics and professional sports.”

From New York Times • Jan. 31, 2024

“It’s also about the changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics, and making sure that schools are set up for the most success possible in the long term.”

From Washington Times • Aug. 7, 2023

“Coach Kiffin is establishing a program that can sustain success and contend for championships,” said Keith Carter, the school’s vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 29, 2022

But Harvard and Yale did not row in any kind of intercollegiate championship regatta beyond their own annual match, and there was no semblance of a national championship event until 1895.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown