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Synonyms

scholarship

American  
[skol-er-ship] / ˈskɒl ərˌʃɪp /

noun

  1. learning; knowledge acquired by study; the academic attainments of a scholar.

  2. a sum of money or other aid granted to a student, because of merit, need, etc., to pursue their studies.

  3. the position or status of a student who has been granted money or other aid to pursue their studies.

  4. a foundation to provide financial assistance to students.


scholarship British  
/ ˈskɒləʃɪp /

noun

  1. academic achievement; erudition; learning

    1. financial aid provided for a scholar because of academic merit

    2. the position of a student who gains this financial aid

    3. ( as modifier )

      a scholarship student

  2. the qualities of a scholar

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See learning.

Etymology

Origin of scholarship

First recorded in 1525–35; scholar + -ship

Explanation

Scholarship is the research done by academics. Or if you receive a scholarship, you're getting an award that will help pay the cost of tuition at school. If you're getting ready for college, chances are you're also looking to see if any scholarships are available. A scholarship is a great thing to get: it means you don't have to pay full tuition to go to a school. Scholarships are awarded for good grades, athletic success, and other accomplishments. Once you get in to school, you'll be engaged in another kind of scholarship — the kind that has to do with research, studying, and higher learning.

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Vocabulary lists containing scholarship

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Funding came from Research Ireland, a Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship, and a research award from the Biostime Institute for Nutrition & Care.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

“I went to a cheap in-state school where my tuition was covered essentially because of sports scholarships,” as well as Georgia’s Hope Scholarship, awarded to students based on their academic performance.

From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026

To claim a CalKIDS Scholarship account, students need:

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

The first was the Cedar Hill Scholarship, awarded to the hometown high-school senior who demonstrated service to others.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

I moved up to the front of the line to join my classmates who had also made the California Scholarship Federation every semester for four years.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez

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