varsity

Mid 17th century. Clipping of university, reflecting an archaic pronunciation.[1]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈvɑː.sɪt.i/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈvɑɹ.sɪt.i/

• Audio (Canada)

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varsity (countable and uncountable, plural varsities)

1. (often attributive) university
2. (sports, US) The principal team representing an institution (usually a high school, college, or university.)

• 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.

• intervarsity
• junior varsity
• varsity letter