polytechnic
n. countablen. a school or college where you study practical subjects like engineering, science, or technology. These schools focus on teaching skills you can use directly in a job.
n. an educational institution specialising in vocational or technical subjects at a higher level. Often associated with applied sciences and professional training rather than theoretical academic research.
He studied civil engineering at the local polytechnic.
Many former polytechnics in the United Kingdom were granted university status in the early 1990s to broaden their academic scope.
The government invested heavily in the polytechnic system to ensure the workforce possessed the technical proficiency required for the burgeoning manufacturing sector.
First attested in 1805. From French polytechnique, from the École polytechnique, engineering school founded 1794 in Paris; from Greek πολύτεχνος "skilled in many arts," from πολύς "many" (see poly-) + τέχνη "art" (see technic).
Commonly used in British English and other Commonwealth systems; in many regions, these institutions have been rebranded as universities of applied sciences.