undergraduate

noun

un·​der·​grad·​u·​ate ˌən-dər-ˈgra-jə-wət How to pronounce undergraduate (audio)
-ˌwāt;
-ˈgraj-wət
Synonyms of undergraduatenext
: a student at a college or university who has not received a first and especially a bachelor's degree
undergraduate adjective

Examples of undergraduate in a Sentence

a group of college undergraduates
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Three years later, in April 2018, he was accused of misappropriating over $400,000 in funds while working at the financial aid office as an undergraduate. — Owen Carry, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Court filings detail declining applications, enrollment, student withdrawals The court filings shed light on the recent decline in Wisconsin in international students, from undergraduate to doctoral, as well as visiting researchers and professors. — Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Carnegie Mellon University started offering an AI undergraduate degree in 2018. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026 The actress had previously completed her undergraduate degree in comparative religion at Harvard. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for undergraduate

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of undergraduate was in 1630

Rhymes for undergraduate

See All Rhymes for undergraduate

Browse Nearby Words

undergrade
undergraduate
undergraduateship
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Undergraduate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undergraduate. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

undergraduate

noun
un·​der·​grad·​u·​ate ˌən-dər-ˈgraj-(ə-)wət How to pronounce undergraduate (audio)
-ə-ˌwāt
: a student at a college or university who has not yet received a degree

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