semester
sih-MEHS-tuh
Semester (noun) means Half of an academic year, typically lasting around six months. Example: “He signed up for three courses this semester and has little free time.”
noun
1
Half of an academic year, typically lasting around six months.
"I will graduate at the end of the spring semester."
"He signed up for three courses this semester and has little free time."
"She's studying abroad for the spring semester."
"Grades are calculated at the end of each semester."
How to use semester
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of the two main terms that make up a school or university year.
UK vs US
Common in US universities; UK institutions more often use "term" and divide the year into three parts rather than two.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
fall semester
spring semester
semester abroad
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Word forms
- Plural
- semesters
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He signed up for three courses this _____ and has little free time.
Etymology
From German Semester, from Latin sēmestris, "lasting six months," combining sex ("six") and mensis ("month").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for semester
See all rhymes for semester →Frequently asked questions
What does “semester” mean?
The word “semester” means half of an academic year, typically lasting around six months. In plain terms, one of the two main terms that make up a school or university year.
How do you pronounce “semester”?
“Semester” is pronounced sih-MEHS-tuh (/sɪˈmɛstɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “semester” in a sentence?
Here is “semester” used in a sentence: “She's studying abroad for the spring semester.”
What part of speech is “semester”?
“Semester” is a noun.
Where does the word “semester” come from?
The word “semester” comes from Latin. From German Semester, from Latin sēmestris, "lasting six months," combining sex ("six") and mensis ("month").
Is “semester” a common word?
“Semester” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between a semester and a term?
A semester is specifically half of an academic year, so a semester system divides the year into two main teaching blocks. Term is the more general word for any division of the academic year; British schools, for instance, commonly split the year into three terms.
What is the difference between a semester and a trimester?
A semester divides the academic year into two halves, while a trimester divides it into three parts. Semesters are therefore longer, typically covering around six months of the year each, whereas each trimester covers roughly a third of the year.
How long does a semester last?
A semester is half of an academic year, typically spanning around six months of the calendar. The actual teaching weeks inside a semester are usually fewer, since the period also absorbs exams and breaks.
What is the difference between a semester and a quarter?
A semester splits the academic year into two halves, while a quarter system divides it into shorter sessions of roughly a quarter of the year each. Students on a quarter system move through more, shorter study blocks per year than students on the two-semester pattern.
