varsity

== English == === Etymology === First attested in the mid-17th century. Clipping of univarsity, reflecting an archaic pronunciation of university. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈvɑː.sɪ.ti/ (US) IPA(key): /ˈvɑɹ.sɪ.ti/, [ˈvɑɹsɪɾi] Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)sɪti === Noun === varsity (countable and uncountable, plural varsities) (often attributive) University. (sports, US) The principal sports team representing an institution (usually a high school, college, or university.) ==== Usage notes ==== Used attributively in the UK to describe a sports team representing a university or college, or a match involving such a team (in normal usage only applying to one of the older universities, and considered somewhat dated even then). Used attributively in the U.S. and Canada to describe a sports team made up of older high school or college students (generally the 3rd and 4th years of a 4-year program), as contrasted with the junior varsity team made up of 1st- and 2nd-year students. Used synonymously with "university" in South Africa. ==== Derived terms ==== intervarsity junior varsity varsity letter varsity jacket ==== Translations ==== === References ===