Portuguese · Culture & Society
Universidade
[/univɛɾsiˈdadʒi/]
University
Intermediatenoun · f
Definition
A high-level educational institution that awards degrees.
Instituição de ensino superior que confere graus acadêmicos.
Example
Ela estudou na Universidade de São Paulo.
She studied at the University of São Paulo.
Etymology
'Universidade' comes from the Latin 'universitas', meaning a whole or a community. It reflects the evolution of higher learning institutions in Europe during the Middle Ages, which were later adopted in Portugal.
How & Where It’s Used
'Universidade' is predominantly used in formal contexts, especially in academia, legal, and governmental discussions. It is found in both spoken and written forms, particularly within educational and scholarly discourse.