state university
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of state university
An Americanism dating back to 1825–35
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.
Johns Hopkins offered $16,000 more, making the cost less than that of a state university in New York, where the family lives.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026
Because LSU is a state university, says Gov. Jeff Landry, Louisiana taxpayers will be on the hook for paying off Mr. Kelly if the university can’t find enough private donations to cover the cost.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025
Perhaps not surprisingly, in a city dominated by a state university, nearly all were college football games.
From Salon • Nov. 3, 2025
In Northridge, student housing is prioritized near the state university.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025
“I wanted to go to the state university but we couldn’t afford it. My father had to send me to a small denominational college.”
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
