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varsity

varsity

45 4.4
The main college or university team that plays in sports
  • noun
  • /ˈvɑːrsɪti/
translation icon : equipo universitario
  • She joined the varsity swim team at the university to compete against other colleges.
  • a varsity team
  • a varsity athlete
  • a varsity coach

I didn't make varsity and, and multiple of those sports.

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Examples

  • As one participant put it, "you have to have a thick skin" to be a varsity athlete.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Thus, it appears as though the college varsity athletes were not affected by the officials' expertise.

    Academic text (2000)
  • - You just made the varsity, little lady.

  • Coach put me on the varsity team.

  • And we tried out for the varsity team.

  • John was a strong boy, a guard on the varsity football team.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • I was like, well, I could also try out for the varsity team there and spend another four years being a varsity athlete.

  • At the University of Kentucky, varsity sports did not return to the campus for over fifty years.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Busted my butt in school, Captain of the varsity basketball team, Got into Yale College.

  • CJ immediately joined the varsity team at South Pasadena when he arrived as a freshman.

    Fiction book (2001)

Synonyms

first team
vsvarsity
  • UK
27 3.3

The main college or university sports team made of the best players

emphasizes official representation of the college rather than selection by skill

Compounds

5 4.5

A school or college sports team below the main team, often for younger players

2 4.4

An award made of cloth for students who play well on a school's main sports team

5.0

A knee-high sports sock often worn in school or college colors

How Competitive

elite
241 4.5
varsity
45 4.4
club
1.0
recreational
84 3.9

Surface Forms

varsity singular
varsities plural

Etymology

Varsity comes from the same short form of university, and people soon used it for the main team that represents a school in sport, so a 'varsity' team is the top college or university team.