undergraduate
Undergraduate (noun) means a university student who has not yet earned a degree. Example: “He spent four years as an undergraduate studying physics.”
noun
1
A university student who has not yet earned a degree.
"He spent four years as an undergraduate studying physics."
"As a first-year undergraduate, Maria lives in halls and is still learning the campus."
"Every undergraduate at the college must write a long essay in their final year."
"Daniel Hajas is a physics undergraduate at Sussex and has been blind since he was 16. He first heard about Giles and the SSDs when Giles was looking for blind students to test the devices."
— Vanessa Potter, My sudden synesthesia: how I went blind and started hearing colors (2017)
adjective
1
Relating to undergraduate study.
"After completing my undergraduate studies, I embarked on a career in publishing."
"The university offers a strong undergraduate program in engineering."
"Undergraduate students usually attend lectures and then meet in smaller groups to discuss them."
"She found an undergraduate course in history that suited her interests."
How to use undergraduate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA student working toward their first (bachelor's) degree.
Common pairings
undergraduate degree
undergraduate student
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Word forms
- Plural
- undergraduates
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He spent four years as an _____ studying physics.
Etymology
From under- + graduate — literally, someone below the rank of a graduate.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for undergraduate
See all rhymes for undergraduate →Frequently asked questions
What does “undergraduate” mean?
The word “undergraduate” means a university student who has not yet earned a degree. In plain terms, a student working toward their first (bachelor's) degree.
How do you use “undergraduate” in a sentence?
Here is “undergraduate” used in a sentence: “He spent four years as an undergraduate studying physics.”
What is the opposite of “undergraduate”?
The opposite of “undergraduate” — its antonyms — are postgraduate and graduate.
What part of speech is “undergraduate”?
Depending on how it is used, “undergraduate” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “undergraduate” a common word?
“Undergraduate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “undergraduate” have?
“Undergraduate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a university student who has not yet earned a degree.
What is the difference between an undergraduate and a graduate student?
An undergraduate is a university student who has not yet earned a degree, typically studying for a bachelor's degree. A graduate student has already completed an undergraduate degree and is pursuing further study, such as a master's or doctorate. The two levels involve different coursework and academic status.
Can undergraduate be used as an adjective?
Yes, undergraduate can describe anything relating to undergraduate study, such as an undergraduate course, undergraduate degree, or undergraduate student. In this use it modifies a noun rather than referring to a person directly.
Is undergraduate the same as freshman?
No, undergraduate is a broader term covering any student working toward a first degree, from first year through final year. Freshman refers specifically to a first-year undergraduate student, so all freshmen are undergraduates but not all undergraduates are freshmen.
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