tuition

American  

[too-ish-uhn, tyoo-] / tuˈɪʃ ən, tyu- /

noun

1. the charge or fee for instruction, as at a private school or a college or university.

   The college will raise its tuition again next year.

2. teaching or instruction, as of pupils.

   a school offering private tuition in languages.

3. Archaic. guardianship or custody.

---

tuition British  

/ tjuːˈɪʃən /

noun

1. instruction, esp that received in a small group or individually

2. the payment for instruction, esp in colleges or universities

---

Other Word Forms

• self-tuition noun
• tuitional adjective
• tuitionary adjective
• tuitionless adjective

Etymology

Origin of tuition

1250–1300; Middle English tuicion a looking after, guarding < Latin tuitiōn- (stem of tuitiō ), equivalent to tuit ( us ) (past participle of tuērī to watch; tutelage ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Collective Impact also allegedly paid more than $45,000 to or on behalf of her son going towards payroll, back rent payments and graduate school tuition, according to Jenkins.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

“Families are always hoping that tuition costs are going to come down,” Tricia Scarlata, head of education savings at J.P.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Blanchett, who takes the lead on his family’s investment decisions, could sell to pay tuition for his four children.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

However, the panel did not find that tuition was intended to be provided without parental consent.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

My plan, insofar as I had one, was to go to university to be a computer programmer, but we couldn’t afford the tuition.

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