enrollment

American  

[en-rohl-muhnt] / ɛnˈroʊl mənt /

especially British, enrolment

noun

1. the act or process of enrolling.

2. the state of being enrolled.

3. the number of persons enrolled, as for a course or in a school.

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Other Word Forms

• preenrollment
  noun
• reenrollment
  noun
• superenrollment
  noun

Etymology

Origin of enrollment

First recorded in 1525–35; enroll + -ment

Explanation

When you sign up for something, like a new school, a medical trial, or a club, that's enrollment. Your enrollment in that art class is dependent on paying your tuition bill first! In voting, enrollment means adding someone's name to the electoral roll after they've registered to vote. And in college, enrollment means the process of matriculating, or formally becoming a student at a university. You can also use this word for the total number of students at a school: "The preschool's enrollment is down this year." Enrollment is from the verb enroll and its Old French source, enroller which means "write in a register."

Example Sentences

A broker may enroll beneficiaries based not on their needs but rather on which plans compensate them the most through commissions and bonus payments for meeting enrollment targets.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

This increase in renewal fees is the largest driver of the increase in broker spending over time, rather than changes in the fee per enrollment, according to the study.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

Overall, the district continues to struggle with declining enrollment and looming pressures to close schools, as well as long-term pension and retiree benefit obligations.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

District-staffing surged while enrollment dropped 12% from 2016 to 2025.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

He discovered, for instance, that he wasn’t on the class list for two of his courses, and that for one of them, enrollment was already closed.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen

Related Words

• admission
• enlistment
• recruitment