HBCU

1 of 2

noun

ˌāch-ˌbē-ˌsē-ˈyü

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

Thursday features a Harry Potter specialty ticket package, while Friday's HBCU Night includes a pregame party at the Coca-Cola Roxy and marching band performances. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Moreover, Loving made the BOXTOROW HBCU College Football Preseason All-America Team. — Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 The trailer welcomes a new generation to Hillman College, a fictional HBCU, and introduces the people that will become Deborah’s people. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026 Spelman College, the first HBCU for women in America, was ranked second overall, behind Howard University, according to Forbes. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 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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Style

“HBCU.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/HBCU. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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HBCU

noun

abbreviation

Examples of HBCU in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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