univ

Univ is a shortened form of the word university that appears in English in a variety of contexts. It is commonly seen on campus signage, within bibliographic citations, and in certain formal documents where space is limited. The form can be written as Univ. with a period and capital U, or in lowercase as univ., depending on style guidelines. In many cases, it serves as a stable shorthand for the name of a university.

The word "university" derives from the Latin universitas magistrorum et scholarium, meaning a "community of teachers and scholars." The abbreviation "univ" grew as a practical shorthand in administrative records, catalogs, and reference works, and has persisted in English-language usage as a conventional form in institutional names and bibliographies.

Usage varies by style guide and region. In running prose, many writers prefer spelling out "university," while "Univ." or "univ." appears in lists, directory entries, and citations. Examples include Univ. of Oxford, Univ. of Cambridge, and various university libraries or departments that must fit into narrow formats. It is important to expand the term on first reference in formal writing, according to the relevant style.

For further context, see university, higher education, and cataloging practices used by libraries and scholarly publishers.