baccalaureate

[bak-uh-lawr-ee-it, -lor-]

noun

1. bachelor's degree.

2. a religious service held at an educational institution, usually on the Sunday before commencement day.

3. baccalaureate sermon.

baccalaureate

/ ˌbækəˈlɔːrɪɪt /

noun

1. the university degree of Bachelor or Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc

2. an internationally recognized programme of study, comprising different subjects, offered as an alternative to a course of A levels in Britain

3. a farewell sermon delivered at the commencement ceremonies in many colleges and universities

Other Word Forms

• postbaccalaureate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of baccalaureate¹

1615–25; < Medieval Latin baccalaureātus, equivalent to baccalaure ( us ) advanced student, bachelor (for baccalārius ( bachelor ), alteration by association with Latin phrase bacca laureus laurel berry) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of baccalaureate¹

C17: from Medieval Latin baccalaureātus , from baccalaureus advanced student, alteration of baccalārius _bachelor ; influenced in folk etymology by Latin bāca berry + laureus laurel

Example Sentences

"The noise of the explosion, combined with smoke" caused alarm among the almost 6,000 students sitting the baccalaureate at a school in the capital, Bangui, local radio station Ndeke Luka reported.

From BBC

A nondenominational, interfaith baccalaureate was scheduled for that night in Bovard Auditorium — near the site of the current encampment.

From Los Angeles Times

The experience of college-level science courses, the completion of baccalaureate or more advanced degrees, and the development of civic scientific literacy were strong predictors of increased acceptance of evolution.

From Science Daily

I had an elite Ivy League journalism degree and he held a baccalaureate in journalism from Cal State Long Beach and, before joining The Times, had been running a silk-screening business.

From Los Angeles Times

As EDSK's Tom Richmond says, baccalaureates can be expensive to run as they are "much more resource intensive" - they include more subjects, an extended essay, and some kind of personal or community service.

From BBC

Related Words

• class 
• credit 
• grade 
• honor 
• level 
• magnitude 
• point 
• position 
• qualification 
• quality 
• scope 
• sort 
• standard 
• status 
• strength