Word
semester
Phoneticsse·mes·ter, stress on the second syllable
US/səˈmɛstɝ/
UK/səmˈɛstɐ/
Definitions
01academic term
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun American English · General-service
n. half of a school or university year, usually lasting about 15 to 18 weeks.
n. one of the two primary divisions of an academic year, typically designated as the fall and spring semesters.
“I am taking a difficult history course during the spring semester.”
“The university administration decided to implement a revised grading policy starting from the autumn semester to better accommodate international students.”
Usage
Commonly used with 'fall', 'spring', 'autumn', or 'winter' to specify the time of year.
02six-month period
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Formal · Technical
n. a period of six months.
n. a duration of six months, derived from the Latin roots for 'six' and 'month'.
“The contract was renewed for another semester of six months.”
“The fiscal projections were calculated based on a single semester, though the board requested a full annual review for the final report.”
Teaching tip
This general sense of 'six months' is rare in modern conversation; learners will almost always encounter this word in an academic context.
Synonyms
Etymology
From German Semester, from New Latin sēmestris (“lasting six months”), from sex (“six”) + mēnsis (“month”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/semester