Word
undergraduate
Phoneticsun·der·grad·u·ate, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌəndɝˈɡɹædʒəwət/
UK/ˌʌndəɡɹˈædjuːət/
Definitions
01university student
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic
n. a student who is studying for their first university degree.
n. a student at a higher education institution who is pursuing a first degree, typically a Bachelor's degree.
Español:estudiante universitario no licenciado
“The university has over twenty thousand undergraduates studying everything from art to science.”
“As an undergraduate, she spent most of her time in the library researching historical linguistics for her final dissertation.”
Usage
Often shortened to 'undergrad' in informal speech.
Teaching tip
In American English, students are often called 'freshmen', 'sophomores', 'juniors', or 'seniors' depending on their year of undergraduate study.
Antonyms
02relating to first degrees
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
adj. describing things related to students who are studying for their first degree.
adj. relating to or being an undergraduate student or the level of study leading to a first degree.
“He is currently taking an undergraduate course in psychology.”
“The department offers several undergraduate programmes, though the most competitive is the dual-degree in law and economics.”
Usage
Usually placed before a noun.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “undergraduate” in context.
Verb
01. admit undergraduates
“The prestigious institution only admits undergraduates who demonstrate exceptional academic potential.”
verb + noun
02. teach undergraduates
“Professor Miller prefers to teach undergraduates because of their enthusiasm for the subject.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. gifted undergraduate
“As a gifted undergraduate, she was invited to assist with senior research projects.”
adj + noun
04. prospective undergraduate
“The university holds open days to attract prospective undergraduates from across the country.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. undergraduate degree
“Most students take three or four years to complete their undergraduate degree.”
noun + noun
06. undergraduate dissertation
“He spent the entire final term researching and writing his undergraduate dissertation.”
noun + noun
07. undergraduate enrollment
“The college has seen a significant increase in undergraduate enrollment this semester.”
noun + noun
08. undergraduate students
Real-World Examples
“A team of undergraduates and I revisited the methanol study and attempted to replicate past results using a new dataset from ALMA observations.” “Admittedly, I’ve taught generations of students about Wagner and Bayreuth and have been aware of the theatre’s acoustic – revered among opera-lovers – since I was myself an undergraduate.” Etymology
From under- + graduate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/undergraduate
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0