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.
historically Black colleges and universities
Examples of HBCU in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
William Earl, Variety, 23 May 2025
As Deadline reported previously, the streamer will shoot a pilot for A Different World, a sequel to the 1987 sitcom, which will chronicle Dwayne and Whitley’s daughter’s time at an HBCU.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 May 2025
The prospect of the DeSantis administration wresting more control over the HBCU plays into longstanding anxieties that the state could cut into some of the university’s signature programs — or even merge the school with FSU, an idea lawmakers contemplated in the 1960s.
—Kate Payne, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2025
As of Wednesday, nearly 11,500 people, including current students, alumni, faculty and HBCU supporters nationwide, signed a petition opposing Johnson’s appointment, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025
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Noun
Robert Latorre, Stephanie Jackson, Tina Messina and Larry Alecia will be tasked with driving ad sales across Allen Media Group’s 27 TV stations, its cable channels, syndicated TV portfolio and streaming platforms including HBCU Go and the Weather Channel Streaming App.
—William Earl, Variety, 23 May 2025
As Deadline reported previously, the streamer will shoot a pilot for A Different World, a sequel to the 1987 sitcom, which will chronicle Dwayne and Whitley’s daughter’s time at an HBCU.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 May 2025
The prospect of the DeSantis administration wresting more control over the HBCU plays into longstanding anxieties that the state could cut into some of the university’s signature programs — or even merge the school with FSU, an idea lawmakers contemplated in the 1960s.
—Kate Payne, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2025
As of Wednesday, nearly 11,500 people, including current students, alumni, faculty and HBCU supporters nationwide, signed a petition opposing Johnson’s appointment, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for HBCU
Cite this Entry
“HBCU.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/HBCU. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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