plural HBCUs
: a college or university in the U.S. established before 1964 for African American students : a historically Black college or university
the state's largest HBCU

Note: The term HBCU was created as a federal designation during the 1986 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which expanded federal funding for colleges and universities.

HBCU

2 of 2

abbreviation

historically Black colleges and universities

Examples of HBCU in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Reynolds also understands the importance of HBCU players showcasing their skills in front of scouts. Jason Jones, New York Times, 11 July 2025 Jamal George #11 of Alabama State University poses with the trophy following his team's victory in the HBCU Swingman Classic at Globe Life Field on July 12, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025 By virtue of being invited to play in Friday’s HBCU Swingman Classic, Coppin State senior pitcher Reagan Rivera will get a chance to meet Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. for whom the game is colloquially named after. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2025 Rust College is Mississippi's oldest HBCU and second oldest private college in the state; it's also affiliated with the United Methodist Church, according to Rust. arkansasonline.com, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for HBCU

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of HBCU was in 1980

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Cite this Entry

“HBCU.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/HBCU. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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