postsecondary

American  

[pohst-sek-uhn-der-ee] / ˈpoʊstˈsɛk ənˌdɛr i /

Or post-secondary

adjective

1. of or relating to education beyond high school.

   She completed her postsecondary education at a two-year college.

   Students can begin coursework in aircraft maintenance at the high school level and complete it at a post-secondary institution.

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Etymology

Origin of postsecondary

First recorded in 1920–25; post- ( def. ) + secondary ( def. )

Example Sentences

Right now, federal spending on postsecondary workforce development — which totaled $28.2 billion last year — is largely detached from measurable results.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 7, 2026

Many students pursue postsecondary education to advance their trade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

Education Department pressuring colleges to improve graduation rates, it should be no surprise that grade inflation has followed students into postsecondary school.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2024

In fact, Washington will be among the five states with the largest share of jobs requiring some form of postsecondary education, according to forecasts from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce.

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2024

Just three and a half months ago, my Administration and the Congress successfully concluded over two years of work on a major reauthorization bill that further expands benefits to postsecondary education.

From State of the Union Address by Carter, Jimmy