postgraduate
UK[ˌpəʊstˈɡrædʒuət]US[ˌpoʊstˈɡrædʒuət]
adj
relating to or denoting a course of study undertaken after completing a first degree.
n
a student undertaking a postgraduate course of study.
Morpheme Breakdown
post
graduate
post
after
graduate
holder of a degree
Etymology
the word 'postgraduate' is a modern english compound formed by directly combining the latin-derived prefix 'post-' with the established english word 'graduate'. the prefix 'post-', from latin post meaning "after", straightforwardly indicates temporal sequence. the core element 'graduate' originates from latin gradus "step", which evolved to signify an academic degree—a step in one's education—and then a person who has attained that step. the compound logic is transparent: a postgraduate is literally "one who comes after the degree-holder", referring to advanced study undertaken after the completion of a first (undergraduate) degree. this construction follows a common pattern in academic terminology for creating precise, hierarchical descriptors.
Analysis
Structure: post (after) + graduate (holder of a degree)
post: from latin post meaning "after, behind". a prefix indicating subsequence in time or order.
graduate: from latin graduatus, past participle of graduari "to take a degree", from gradus "step, degree". functions as the core noun/adjective.
Examples
she decided to pursue postgraduate research in molecular biology.
the university offers excellent facilities for its postgraduate students.
this scholarship is available to both undergraduate and postgraduate applicants.