postgraduate

American  

[pohst-graj-oo-it, -eyt] / poʊstˈgrædʒ u ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or consisting of post-graduates.

   a postgraduate seminar.

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noun

postgraduates plural

1. a student who is taking advanced work after graduation, as from a high school or college.

postgraduate British  

/ pəʊstˈɡrædjʊɪt /

noun

1. a student who has obtained a degree from a university, etc, and is pursuing studies for a more advanced qualification

2. (modifier) of or relating to such a student or to his studies

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• postgraduates
  plural

Etymology

Origin of postgraduate

First recorded in 1855–60; post- + graduate

Compare meaning

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

• undergraduate vs. postgraduate

Example Sentences

In 2015, a single pilot successfully controlled 50 drones at one time in a test at the Naval Postgraduate School in California, setting a world record.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026

Postgraduate researcher David Vandercruyssen said: "High tides can be limited to existing levels simply by closing sluices and turbines and existing low tide levels can be maintained by pumping."

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2024

For example, “There's things like intelligence collection, which are considered acceptable behavior by nations,” said Neil Rowe, a professor of computer science at the Naval Postgraduate School.

From Salon • Dec. 6, 2023

Guest: Mohammed Hafez, professor who studies Islamist movements, political militancy, and violent radicalization at the Naval Postgraduate School and author of Why Muslims Rebel and Suicide Bombers in Iraq: The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom.

From Slate • Nov. 2, 2023

Postgraduate study was not permitted, but they made an exception in my case because I had established a precedent when I was in Pretoria.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• alum
• graduate