# university of life

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/university-of-life
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The real world as a source of instruction, as opposed to a formal education.

## Examples

- He learned his best lessons at the university of life.
- She never finished her degree, but she gained plenty of wisdom from the university of life while traveling.
- While his peers studied theory in lecture halls, he attended the university of life, where practical experience proved far more valuable than any textbook.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.