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

“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

That means that about 2.87 million Americans could have their tuition fully covered for about $25 billion, and nearly 23 million students could be covered for $200 billion.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

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

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

If a child care provider raises the wages of child care workers too much, and subsequently increases its tuition rates, most families cannot afford to send their kids there – especially babies.

From Salon • Mar. 20, 2026

It’d be terrible timing to lose her job, with all the physical therapy she needs after her accident on top of her daughter’s mounting tuition.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera