varsity

[vahr-si-tee]

noun

plural

varsities 

1. any first-string team, especially in sports, that represents a school, college, university, or the like.

   He is on the varsity in tennis and in debating.

2. Chiefly British Informal.,  university.

adjective

1. of or relating to a university or school team, activity, or competition.

   a varsity debater.

varsity

/ ˈvɑːsɪtɪ /

noun

1. informal,  university, formerly used esp at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge

Other Word Forms

• intervarsity adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of varsity¹

1840–50; compare versity university, in 17th century; pronunciation probably preserves historical outcome of Middle English ĕr, as in varmint

Example Sentences

As a high-schooler in North Carolina, he’d been stuck on junior varsity for two years, which he later called “the best thing that could have happened.”

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They worked a junior varsity girls’ game at Granada Hills this week.

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My eyes sweep my bedroom floor until I spot Dad’s old varsity jacket.

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He played junior varsity last season, and let’s just say Celts coach Derek Fisher is going to have fun working with him.

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Tom Hofman is set for his 41st season coaching basketball at La Cañada High, including 39 as varsity coach.

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