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.

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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

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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

Taxpayers can claim federal credits up to $1,700 for donations to scholarships, which can be used by students in public schools for services or private school tuition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

A teacher at a west London private boys' school has been barred from teaching after telling his students to use fake emails to organise "secret" private tuition sessions.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Unbeknownst to me, after taking out an equity loan on our house to help pay my sister's tuition, my parents couldn't keep up with mortgage payments.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi