baccalaureate

[ bak-uh-lawr-ee-it, -lor- ]
/ ˌbæk əˈlɔr i ɪt, -ˈlɒr- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR baccalaureate ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

bachelor's degree.
a religious service held at an educational institution, usually on the Sunday before commencement day.
baccalaureate sermon.

Origin of baccalaureate

1615–25; < Medieval Latin baccalaureātus, equivalent to baccalaure(us) advanced student, bachelor (for baccalārius (see bachelor), alteration by association with Latin phrase bacca laureus laurel berry) + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM baccalaureate

post·bac·ca·lau·re·ate, adjective

Words nearby baccalaureate

bacabal, bacalao, bacall, bacardi, bacca, baccalaureate, baccalaureate sermon, baccalauréat, baccarat, baccate, bacchae

Words related to baccalaureate

sort, status, strength, level, grade, point, standard, credit, magnitude, qualification, position, scope, honor, quality, class, recipient, doctor, grad, alum, alumnus

Example sentences from the Web for baccalaureate

British Dictionary definitions for baccalaureate

baccalaureate
/ (ˌbækəˈlɔːrɪɪt) /

noun

the university degree of Bachelor or Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc
an internationally recognized programme of study, comprising different subjects, offered as an alternative to a course of A levels in Britain
US a farewell sermon delivered at the commencement ceremonies in many colleges and universities

Word Origin for baccalaureate

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