C1 verb Literary

univitcide

/ˌjuːnɪˈvɪtsaɪd/

To systematically destroy or dismantle a university's core mission, structure, or identity through administrative or political actions. It describes the symbolic or literal 'killing' of an academic institution by eroding its foundational values.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The local community worried that the massive funding cuts would eventually univitcide their oldest college.

The local community worried that the massive funding cuts would eventually univitcide their oldest college.

2

The faculty senate accused the board of directors of attempting to univitcide the institution in favor of corporate interests.

The faculty senate accused the board of directors of attempting to univitcide the institution in favor of corporate interests.

3

If they keep firing all the professors, they're just going to univitcide the whole place.

If they keep firing all the professors, they're just going to univitcide the whole place.

Word Family

Noun
univitcide
Verb
univitcide
Adverb
univitcidally
Adjective
univitcidal
Related
univitcidist
💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'University' + 'Homicide'. To univitcide is to commit a 'homicide' against a 'university'.

Quick Quiz

The critics claimed that the state's plan to cut all humanities funding would effectively ________ the university's intellectual core.

Correct!

The correct answer is: univitcide

Examples

1

The local community worried that the massive funding cuts would eventually univitcide their oldest college.

everyday

The local community worried that the massive funding cuts would eventually univitcide their oldest college.

2

The faculty senate accused the board of directors of attempting to univitcide the institution in favor of corporate interests.

formal

The faculty senate accused the board of directors of attempting to univitcide the institution in favor of corporate interests.

3

If they keep firing all the professors, they're just going to univitcide the whole place.

informal

If they keep firing all the professors, they're just going to univitcide the whole place.

4

In his thesis, Smith argues that neoliberal policies tend to univitcide public higher education systems.

academic

In his thesis, Smith argues that neoliberal policies tend to univitcide public higher education systems.

5

Market analysts warned that the aggressive merger might univitcide the smaller liberal arts partner.

business

Market analysts warned that the aggressive merger might univitcide the smaller liberal arts partner.

Word Family

Noun
univitcide
Verb
univitcide
Adverb
univitcidally
Adjective
univitcidal
Related
univitcidist

Common Collocations

risk univitciding the system risk univitciding the system
intentionally univitcide intentionally univitcide
bureaucratic attempts to univitcide bureaucratic attempts to univitcide
univitcide a department univitcide a department
threaten to univitcide threaten to univitcide

Common Phrases

commit univitcide

to carry out the destruction of a university

slow-motion univitcide

a gradual process of institutional decline

administrative univitcide

destruction caused by management decisions

Often Confused With

univitcide vs universicide

Universicide more broadly refers to the 'killing of the universe,' while univitcide is specific to universities.

📝

Usage Notes

This is a highly specialized, technical neologism used primarily in academic and socio-political critiques of higher education management. It follows the '-cide' suffix pattern denoting killing.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse it with 'university' itself or mistake the suffix for something positive. It is always used in a negative or critical context.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'University' + 'Homicide'. To univitcide is to commit a 'homicide' against a 'university'.

📖

Word Origin

A blend of 'university' (from Latin universitas) and the suffix '-cide' (from Latin caedere, meaning to kill).

Grammar Patterns

transitive verb regular conjugation (-d/-ed) often used in passive voice (to be univitcided)
🌍

Cultural Context

Often used in debates regarding the commercialization of education in the UK and US.

Quick Quiz

The critics claimed that the state's plan to cut all humanities funding would effectively ________ the university's intellectual core.

Correct!

The correct answer is: univitcide

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