scholarship

American  

[skol-er-ship] / ˈskɒl ərˌʃɪp /

noun

scholarships plural

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.

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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

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Synonym Usage

See learning.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• scholarships
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scholarship scholarships

Over three years, Helton’s business has collected $291,165 in public scholarship funds, Step Up said.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

Barce put himself through college on a sports scholarship.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

“Cast Away” is a masterwork of creative fiction, employing historical scholarship, biblical allusions and Jungian psychology to deliver one of the most beguiling survival stories ever written.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

While she could likely earn an athletic scholarship at a midmajor or low-major Division I program, the local Division I programs are competitive, and she would prefer to stay close to home.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

“I have a few scholarship applications for you to fill out. They’re in this folder. Take a look at them. I am going to the bank. I’ll be right back.”

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez

Because of our income, we wouldn’t qualify for need-based aid, and these schools generally don’t offer merit scholarships.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

And yes, under National Collegiate Athletic Association rules, Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

He created the Hord Foundation to fund scholarships for minority students and led Concerned Black Men.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

The prohibited conduct can range from a coach texting a prospective athlete to schools offering athletic scholarships or housing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

My parents would be there to help—my mom bought a giant book about college scholarships for me—but the work of earning that scholarship would fall to me.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Related Words

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