# semester

/səˈmɛstɝ/ (US) · /səmˈɛstɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/semester
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. academic term

noun · CEFR B1 · American English · General-service

half of a school or university year, usually lasting about 15 to 18 weeks.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. six-month period

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a period of six months.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I have four difficult classes this semester.
- The professor handed out the reading list on the first day of the autumn semester.
- Students who fail to maintain a minimum grade point average during the spring semester may find their financial aid packages under review by the university administration.

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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.