semester

noun

se·​mes·​ter sə-ˈme-stər How to pronounce semester (audio)
1
: either of the two usually 18-week periods of instruction into which an academic year is often divided
2
: a period of six months
semestral adjective
or semestrial

Examples of semester in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The increase will start with the fall semester, said Grant Hodges, the college's executive director of planning and public relations. Al Gaspeny, arkansasonline.com, 12 Mar. 2024 But consider a couple of points in defense of student borrowers: First: One semester decades ago, the University of Texas at Austin charged me less than $300 for nine graduate hours. John M. Crisp, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 One semester Rec Fit pass at Ball State University. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Mar. 2024 Fourth-year students at the college will receive a reimbursement of their spring semester tuition. James Powel, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024 Current fourth-year students will be reimbursed for the spring 2024 semester. Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2024 Montgomery was from Pueblo, about 45 miles south of campus, and had studied culinary arts for a semester at Pueblo Community College. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2024 Adults seeking a new career in IT can earn certification online for less than the cost of a semester at college. MORE FOR YOU This same marketplace is one factor that could be pushing employers to hire for practical abilities, soft skills and potential. Rafael Castaneda, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 School staff had to administer naloxone 18 times over the course of a school year, and five students died over the course of about one semester. Rae Ellen Bichell, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'semester.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German, from Latin semestris half-yearly, from sex six + mensis month — more at six, moon

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of semester was in 1827

Dictionary Entries Near semester

Cite this Entry

“Semester.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semester. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

semester

noun
se·​mes·​ter sə-ˈmes-tər How to pronounce semester (audio)
: either of two terms of about 18 weeks each that make up a school year

More from Merriam-Webster on semester

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