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Definition of harvard

harvard

/ˈhɑːrvərd/
Har · vard
Plural:Harvards
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harvard Lexical Profile

• noun

1

American A prestigious private Ivy League research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established in 1636 as the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.

Example

"She earned her law degree from Harvard before joining the prominent firm."

2

American A student or graduate of Harvard University.

Example

"The executive board was predominantly composed of Harvards and Yalies."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for harvard

• Nearby Words

hartebeest
hartford
haruspex
harvard
harvest
harvest mouse
harvestable

Word Origin & Etymology

Named in 1639 after John Harvard, an English clergyman and the college's first major benefactor. His surname derives from the Old English personal name 'Hereweard', composed of 'here' (army) and 'weard' (guard).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Harvard. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/harvard
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