Abitur

noun

Abi·​tur ˌä-bi-ˈtu̇r 

: an examination that students in Germany are required to pass in order to be eligible to attend a university

Women take a different route to underemployment. Their problem is not education: they make up a majority of those who pass the Abitur as well as of university students.

—The Economist, 11 Mar. 2010

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German, borrowed from Latin abitūrus "about to depart, one who is going to depart," future participle of abīre "to go off, depart, pass on"

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!