noun

Ivy League

EYE-vee leeg

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Ivy League (noun) means a group of eight long-established, highly selective private universities in the north-eastern United States: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Pennsylvania and Yale. Formally it is their athletic conference, but the name is used for the schools themselves. Example: “She applied to three Ivy League schools and got into two.”

noun

A group of eight long-established, highly selective private universities in the north-eastern United States: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Pennsylvania and Yale. Formally it is their athletic conference, but the name is used for the schools themselves.

"She applied to three Ivy League schools and got into two."

"Cornell is the youngest member of the Ivy League."

adjective

Belonging to or characteristic of these universities, and by extension suggesting elite education, wealth and social polish.

"He arrived with an Ivy League degree and no practical experience."

"The brand trades on a preppy, Ivy League look."

How to use Ivy League

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe eight famous old American universities like Harvard and Yale.

When to use it

Neutral as a proper noun; the adjective often carries a hint of snobbery.

Memory tip

Capitalise both words. The British rough equivalents are Oxbridge for the two oldest universities and the Russell Group for the research-intensive set.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

Ivy League vs Russell Group Ivy League vs Oxbridge Ivy League vs Little Ivies

Common pairings

Ivy League school Ivy League education Ivy League graduate non-Ivy League

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “Ivy League” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She applied to three _____ schools and got into two.

Etymology

From earlier Ivy colleges (1933), as Ivy League first used by AP sports editor Alan J. Gould (1935). The title became official after the formation of the athletic conference in 1954. From the tradition of Ivy Day at many older colleges and universities, where ivy is planted to honor academic excellence.

Synonyms

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elite preppy blue-blooded

Related words

exclusive select Olympic elite elect preppy meritocracy oligarchy

Rhymes for Ivy League

rue due sue cue hue blue true flue clue glue imbue pique

See all rhymes for Ivy League →

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in the Ivy League?

There are eight: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale. All are private, all are in the north-eastern United States, and all but Cornell were founded before American independence.

Is Stanford or MIT in the Ivy League?

No. Both are equally or more selective, but the Ivy League is a specific athletic conference of eight north-eastern schools, and neither belongs to it. People sometimes call them 'Ivy Plus' informally.

Why is it called the Ivy League?

The name refers to the ivy growing on the old campus buildings, and it became the official title of the sports conference formed by the eight schools in the middle of the twentieth century. Various colourful origin stories circulate, but the ivy explanation is the one the universities themselves use.

What is the meaning of Ivy League?

"Ivy League" (noun) means a group of eight long-established, highly selective private universities in the north-eastern United States: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Pennsylvania and Yale. Formally it is their athletic conference, but the name is used for the schools themselves.

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exclusive select Olympic elite elect preppy meritocracy oligarchy