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Varsity - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Varsity refers to the principal team representing a school, college, or university in sports or competitions. It is often associated with higher skill levels and official intercollegiate matches.

varsity

/ˈvɑːrsəti/ /ˈvɑːsɪti/

Definition:

The principal team representing a university or school in sports or other competitions.

Synonyms:

university team, first team, college squad

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

junior varsity, non-varsity

Common Collocations:

varsity sports, varsity letter, varsity jacket, varsity team

Derivatives:

varsities, varisitied (rare)

Usage Tips:

Use "varsity" to refer to the top-level team in school or university sports; avoid for non-competitive contexts.

Common Phrases:

make varsity, varsity athlete, varsity blues

Etymology:

Shortened from "university," first used in the 19th century to denote the principal sports team.

Examples:

  • 1. She earned her spot on the varsity basketball team this year.
  • 2. The varsity soccer match drew a large crowd of students and parents.
  • 3. He proudly wore his varsity jacket to school every Friday.
  • 4. Our school’s varsity debate team won the state championship again.

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