semester

American  

[si-mes-ter] / sɪˈmɛs tər /

noun

semesters plural

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

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

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semester British  

/ sɪˈmɛstə /

noun

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

2. (in German universities) a session of six months

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• semestral
  adjective
• semestrial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• semesters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of semester

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

Explanation

A semester is half of a school year. In September of your first year of high school, you could describe yourself as "a first-semester freshman." The noun semester comes up often when you're in high school and college. It's an easy way to divide the school year, into two equal halves, or semesters. Sometimes a class lasts for the whole year, and sometimes for just one semester. Occasionally schools split the year into three trimesters just to make things interesting. Originally, semester meant "six months," from the Latin root of the same meaning, semestris.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

semester semesters

For example, students at the New Media Academy complete a presentation at the end of each semester in which industry professionals serve as judges.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Some said they are learning more in a single month within the fast-moving startup ecosystem than during an entire semester in lecture halls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

That could mean that even if they sign up for a full load in the spring, they won’t be eligible for the maximum amount of loans that semester.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026

They worked through the summer and applied the finishing touches just in time for the fall semester.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2026

“I minored in Spanish in college, sweetheart. I did a semester here. It’s where I met your dad...You know this!”

From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya

He is enrolling in a UF online program for the first few semesters and paying an extra fee package to access services like the campus gym and student-section football-game tickets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

But what looks to some like abandonment feels to others like a new beginning – and that makes me excited to see how high the women in “Rooster” might fly in coming semesters.

From Salon ● May 11, 2026

In the evolving landscape of college basketball, talented freshmen fated to spend two semesters on campus before rushing off to the NBA draft used to be all the rage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

A move by California State University to guide its last quarter-based campus, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, to semesters by 2026 is estimated to cost $20 million.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2025

Penelope had taken three semesters of art appreciation at the Swanburne Academy, so she had no doubt whatsoever.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood