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state university

American  

noun

  1. a university maintained by the government of a state.


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.

See Examples For:

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

These buyouts are absurd, an outgrowth of a crazed marketplace and undeniably screwy optics at a state university.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 4, 2025

George Mason, with more than 40,000 students, is the most racially diverse public research university in the state, university officials say.

From Salon Jul. 14, 2025

They could then transfer those credits to their state university, and the cost of college could be cut in half.

From Slate Apr. 29, 2024

They played golf together and went out often—to movies, to the theater occasionally, to triple-A baseball games, and to the state university football games.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

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