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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
By her second semester on campus, Natalia was promoted to managing editor, which came with a small stipend. Megan Greenwell, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025 At Indiana State University, during his first semester, education students were put in a classroom to get a taste of teaching. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025 Many students go weeks, sometimes entire semesters, without a permanent teacher, directly undermining their ability to learn. Lakeisha Wells Palmer, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025 After one semester at the seminary school, Buskirk determined preaching wasn’t his calling. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for semester

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

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Cite this Entry

“Semester.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semester. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

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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