party school

American

[pahr-tee skool] / ˈpɑr ti ˌskul /

noun

a college or university with a reputation for having a large number of students who regularly party and drink alcohol or use drugs, but do not spend much time studying.

Etymology

Origin of party school

First recorded in 1965–70

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.

A California university that’s home to a number of Nobel laureates has also gained the distinction of being the top party school in the United States, according to a recent ranking.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 24, 2024

Another early standout is Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, a graduate of MTV University, the party school of the unscripted world.

From Salon • Feb. 24, 2024

He received master's degrees from the central party school in Beijing and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

From Reuters • Mar. 11, 2023

It was a prestigious transfer for Ms. Cai, who had been teaching at a local party school in eastern China.

From New York Times • Jul. 4, 2021

Parties are thought to be a major source of campus outbreaks, and the University of Alabama is the No. 1 party school in the nation.

From Slate • Oct. 10, 2020

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023