higher

British  

/ ˈhaɪə /

adjective

1. the comparative of high

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noun

1. 1. the advanced level of the Scottish Certificate of Education

   2. ( as modifier )

      Higher Latin

2. a pass in a particular subject at Higher level

   she has four Highers

Explanation

When something is described as higher, it's more advanced, difficult, or complex. Higher education is what you learn in college or graduate school, and it's more complicated than high school. You're most likely to see the adjective higher being used to specify a type of education or schooling. Higher finance is likewise an area of banking or investing that's extremely complex because it involves enormous amounts of money. In Scotland, a Higher is a specific, high-level graduation certificate that qualifies students to enter a university.

Example Sentences

With inflation comfortably above the Fed’s 2% target and moving higher in recent months, many investors are hesitant to get too excited about what a drop in oil prices could mean.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026

Curacao next had to face Ecuador, a country ranked more than 50 places higher than them in the world who were looking to respond following defeat by Ivory Coast.

From BBC • Jun. 21, 2026

Among the reasons are climate change, as higher temperatures and increased runoff are combining to increase the amount and types of carbon compounds that move from soil and land into bodies of water.

From Science Daily • Jun. 21, 2026

The FactSet consensus implies expectations for about 725% growth in the August quarter, though estimates could head higher after Wednesday’s results and outlook.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 21, 2026

With his left foot, he felt for the first foothold, just a little higher than the ledge.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver