semester

[ si-mes-ter ]

/ sɪˈmɛs tər /

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See synonyms for: semester / semestral on Thesaurus.com

noun

(in many educational institutions) a division constituting half of the regular academic year, lasting typically from 15 to 18 weeks.

(in German universities) a session, lasting about six months and including periods of recess.

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Origin of semester

1820–30; <German <Latin sēmē(n)stris of six months duration <*sex-mēnstris, equivalent to sexsix + mēns(is) month + -tris adj. suffix (perhaps representing an earlier *mens(i)-teros)

OTHER WORDS FROM semester

se·mes·tral, se·mes·tri·al

[si-mes-tree-uhl], /sɪˈmɛs tri əl/, adjective

Words nearby semester

semelparous, sememe, semen, Semënov, Semeru, semester, semester hour, Semey, semi, semi-abstract, semiamateur

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT SEMESTER

What does semester mean?

A semester is one half of an academic year.

If an academic year is divided into semesters, it means it is divided into two semesters. (If the year is divided into thirds, each part is called a trimester.)

Semesters are typically used in high schools and universities. In many universities, a semester lasts 15 to 18 weeks. In German universities, a semester can last up to six months.

Example: I’m thinking about taking a break from school for a semester to work and save some money.

Where does semester come from?

The first records of the word semester come from the 1800s. It comes from the Latin sēmestris, meaning “half-yearly,” from sex, meaning “six,” and mensis, meaning “a month.”

In high school, many classes extend throughout both semesters, meaning students take that class throughout the entire academic year. But in college, new classes typically start each semester and end when the semester is over. Semesters typically run from August or September to December, and from January to May or June. When students take classes in the summer, it’s called the summer semester. Though many schools divide the academic year into semesters, others use a quarter or trimester system.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to semester?

semestral (adjective)
semestrial (adjective)

What are some synonyms for semester?

session

What are some words that share a root or word element with semester?

What are some words that often get used in discussing semester?

How is semester used in real life?

Semester is always used in the context of academic years—never for business schedules or other calendars.

I can finish this semester strong
I can finish this semester strong
I can finish this semester strong
I can finish this semester strong
I can finish this semester strong
I can finish this semester strong
I can finish this semester strong
I can finish this semester strong

— ♡Mother Soju♡ (@sojuboitellem) May 8, 2020

CONGRATS TO EVERYONE who finished this semester, graduated from high school & college, & those who are graduating from graduate school!!! Pat yourself on the back 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

— Shakeera 🦋 (@SimplyyShak) May 7, 2020

Finished my first semester of grad school! By this time next year I’ll have my masters! Only three more semesters and 9 classes left

— Kirsten Nicole (@Awkwardly_Soft) May 6, 2020

Try using semester!

True or False?

If an academic year is divided into semesters, there are always two.

How to use semester in a sentence

That we’re not going to wait to play later in the semester when it’s mythically going to just magically get better.
For this college football team, covid means the season starts in February — with Senior Day|Glynn A. Hill|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
The semester I spent abroad in Paris kind of changed all that and I decided I didn’t want to do pre-med anymore, but I wanted to find a way to get back to Paris.
How French Baking Was Brought to Virginia|Eugene Robinson|February 5, 2021|Ozy
Although this is not the way we wanted to start this new term, we also know that with the proper commitment to our established safety protocols, we will be able to have a successful and safe semester together.
Johns Hopkins suspends in-person classes for undergrads until Friday after virus cases|Lauren Lumpkin|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
Some, he said, are delaying the start of the semester or the start of in-person teaching to buy time.
Spring term delays: New wave of coronavirus uncertainty slams higher education|Nick Anderson|January 20, 2021|Washington Post

Like other schools, Middle Tennessee had moved classes online for the remainder of the semester.
A college football coach’s season at war with the coronavirus — and his own school|Kent Babb|January 19, 2021|Washington Post
I had been studying abroad in London, and came back to finish the semester at Tufts.
Everyone at This Dinner Party Has Lost Someone|Samantha Levine|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The trick, in any case, was repeated semester after semester.
Stonewall Jackson, VMI’s Most Embattled Professor|S. C. Gwynne|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
According to his suit, Carleton would rotate four new boys into his home every semester.
Headmasters Behaving Badly|Emily Shire|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My relationship with foreign cultures began, like many privileged Americans, with an idealistic college semester abroad.
How I Got Addicted to Africa (and Wrote a Thriller About It)|Todd Moss|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I will be moving out of my House next semester, if only—quite literally—to save my life.
The College Bro’s Burden: Consent and Assault Cast a Shadow on Sexy Times|Amy Zimmerman|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These girls had all arrived at Ardmore several days in advance of the opening of the semester.
Ruth Fielding At College|Alice B. Emerson
This would be sometime between the first of January 1940, and the time you finished the second semester, let us say.
Warren Commission (11 of 26): Hearings Vol. XI (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
In most instances he was a man of wealth and high social standing, who looked upon his semester or two as a romantic episode.
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science|Various
Queen's is bad enough, but if I am to descend to a room over the post-office after this semester, I'd—I'd rather die!
Molly Brown's Sophomore Days|Nell Speed
That young man will not fight another round for many a long semester after I have done with him.'
Greifenstein|F. Marion Crawford

British Dictionary definitions for semester

semester

/ (sɪˈmɛstə) /

noun

(in some universities) either of two divisions of the academic year, ranging from 15 to 18 weeks

(in German universities) a session of six months

Derived forms of semester

semestral, adjective

Word Origin for semester

C19: via German from Latin sēmestris half-yearly, from sex six + mensis a month

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

semester

Origin of semester

OTHER WORDS FROM semester

Words nearby semester

MORE ABOUT SEMESTER

What does semester mean?

Where does semester come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is semester used in real life?

Try using semester!

Words related to semester

How to use semester in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for semester

Derived forms of semester

Word Origin for semester