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Synonyms

bursary

American  
[bur-suh-ree] / ˈbɜr sə ri /

noun

bursaries plural
  1. Ecclesiastical. the treasury of a monastery.

  2. British. a college scholarship.


bursary British  
/ ˈbɜːsərɪ /

noun

  1. Also called: bursarship.  a scholarship or grant awarded esp in Scottish and New Zealand schools, universities etc

    1. the treasury of a college, etc

    2. the bursar's room in a college

"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

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

Etymology

Origin of bursary

1530–40; < Medieval Latin bursāria treasurer's room, derivative of bursārius a treasurer. See bursar, -y 3

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.

Students do receive a £5,000‑a‑year training bursary, which does not have to be repaid, prompting questions about whether public money is being wasted if graduates cannot find work.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

While the roles are unpaid, free accommodation and travel expenses to and from the island within the UK will be provided by WTSWW, plus a bursary ranging from £200 to £400.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

Leaving a full-time job working as a team leader in a care home was a big step for him - from £15 an hour to living on a £770 per month bursary.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2024

She joined a theatre company in Manchester and set about forming her own, before landing the Caroline Aherne bursary in 2017, which develops new comedy talent.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2024

She’d lost the bursary when she’d left her job at ICI, and paying for private school was becoming a burden.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah

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