Oscar

¹

[os-ker]

noun

1. a word used in communications to represent the letter O.

2. a male given name: from Old English words meaning “god” and “spear.”

3. Military.,  the NATO name for a class of nuclear-powered submarines armed with cruise missiles, designed to attack aircraft carriers and escort ships: first produced for the Soviet Navy in the 1970s; in service with the Russian Navy since 1992.

Oscar

²

[os-ker]

Trademark.

1. one of a group of statuettes awarded annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievements in motion-picture production and performance.

Oscar

³

[os-ker]

noun

1. one of a series of small communications satellites, launched into polar orbit as piggyback passengers on U.S. launch vehicles, for unrestricted use by radio amateurs.

oscar

¹

/ ˈɒskə /

noun

1. slang,  cash; money

Oscar

²

/ ˈɒskə /

noun

1. 1. Official name: Academy Award. any of several small gold statuettes awarded annually in the United States by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in films

   2. (sometimes not capital) an award made in recognition of outstanding endeavour in any of various other fields

      the TV Oscars

2. (without capital) any annual award for excellence

3. communications a code word for the letter o

Oscar

1. A small statue given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to winners of its annual awards. (See Academy Awards.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Oscar¹

Allegedly named in 1931 by Margaret Herrick, librarian and later executive secretary at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, after her uncle

Origin of Oscar²

First recorded in 1980–85; o(rbiting) s(atellite) c(arrying) a(mateur) r(adio)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Oscar¹

C20: rhyming slang, from Oscar Asche (1871–1936), Australian actor

Origin of Oscar²

C20: sense 1 said to have been named after a remark made by an official on first seeing the statuette, that it reminded her of her uncle Oscar

Example Sentences

Frankenstein themes were threaded through 2023’s Poor Things, which won Emma Stone an Oscar, as well as two recent teen horror movies, Lisa Frankenstein and The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

For his work, Legrand would be nominated for a Grammy and three Oscars, including best score and best song, for “I Will Wait for You.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Shares of Oscar, which offers most of its plans through the marketplaces, fell 26% in the two days after the vote.

Read more on Barron's

Karl Davies, then 57, was working at Wrexham's Oscar Mayer ready meal manufacturing site when he greeted a manager in the accent while listening to Irish music, an employment tribunal heard.

Read more on BBC

There have been Oscar and Bafta wins for the animated short film of the first book while publishing records have been broken for the most consecutive weeks on the Sunday Times bestsellers list.

Read more on BBC

When To Use

What are the Oscars?

The Oscars is a popular name for the Academy Awards—an annual award ceremony hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to honor excellence in film.The award presented during the ceremony—a statuette in the form of a gold-plated figure—is called an Academy Award, but it is popularly known as an Oscar. (It’s officially called the Academy Award of Merit.)Although the term Oscars originated as an informal nickname, it’s the most common way of referring to both the awards and the ceremony, and is even used in an official capacity by the Academy itself.Winning an Oscar is often considered the most prestigious honor in the film industry, and the ceremony is often seen as the premiere awards show event, known for being attended by many top celebrities in the film and entertainment industry.Awards are presented in many different categories, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role, and Best Director.