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

2. 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

3. the qualities of a scholar

---

Related Words

See learning.

Etymology

Origin of scholarship

First recorded in 1525–35; scholar + -ship

Example Sentences

His artistic career began while studying art on a football scholarship at USC, where he met and was mentored by Hungarian painter Francis de Erdely.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The past year has produced an explosion of originalist scholarship on both sides.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Koch has spent more than 25 years around Apollo veterans through a scholarship foundation and Nasa remembrance events, and says that what the former astronauts have really taught her is camaraderie.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Silva Júnior is the first author of the study, which was conducted during an internship at the University of Tübingen in Germany with a scholarship from FAPESP.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

The spring meet is coming up, and I can’t afford to not get that scholarship.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• assistance
• award
• charity
• donation
• fellowship
• financial aid
• reward