junior varsity

American  

noun

Sports.

• junior varsities
  plural

1. a university, college, or school team that consists of players who lack the qualifications or skill necessary for the varsity and compete against other teams of similar composition or ability.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• junior varsities
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of junior varsity

First recorded in 1945–50

---

Compare meaning

How does junior-varsity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• varsity vs. junior varsity

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

junior varsity

Suddenly, in September, Maye was looking like a nervy junior varsity quarterback.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

He said some clients are training for the pros while others are just trying to make the junior varsity squad.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

Skinner wanted to focus on being a top safety even though he started high school at Chaminade playing quarterback, transferred to Notre Dame as a sophomore and played quarterback for the junior varsity team.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

Small for my age and not very athletic, I tried out for the junior varsity team at Eastchester High School in New York.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Trent was junior varsity, but Chip had managed a spot on the varsity roster, the only sophomore to do so.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---