univ

IPA/jˈuːnɪv/
IPA/jˈuːnɪv/

univ — noun

1. the short written form of the word 'university', used in addresses, on official

1.nounA2
Definition

the short written form of the word 'university', used in addresses, on official forms, and in the names of schools.

Example

Nila sent her application to Stanford Univ. last December.

abbreviation in official address: [Name] Univ.

The lecture hall at Kyushu Univ. was completely full of students.

Common collocations
  • [Name] Univ.
  • Univ. of [Location]
  • univ. library
  • univ. website
Synonyms
  • university

    the full written and spoken form; always correct in any context

  • uni

    informal British shortening, used in casual conversation

  • college

    in American English, an undergraduate institution, not the exact equivalent

Usage Note

Used primarily in writing — on envelopes, letter headings, official forms, and websites. In speech, the full word 'university' is almost always used instead.

Common Mistakes

I study at univ.' (in spoken conversation).
I study at the university.
'Univ' is a written abbreviation and is not used in spoken English.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four forms refer to a university, but they differ in medium and register. 'Univ' is a written abbreviation used in addresses, forms, and official names — you write it but do not say it aloud. 'University' is the full form, appropriate in both writing and speech at any level of formality. 'Uni' is an informal British shortening used in casual conversation ('Which uni are you at?'). 'U' is an even more informal American shortening, most commonly seen as part of a proper name ('NYU', 'UCLA') rather than as a standalone abbreviation. When in doubt, use the full word 'university'.

univ ↗university ↗uni ↗U

Common collocations

Nouns

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

'Univ' is a standard written abbreviation of 'university', which comes from the Latin word 'universitas' — meaning 'the whole, a community, a corporation'. The abbreviation has been used in English correspondence and address forms since at least the 19th century.