bursar

American  

[bur-ser, -sahr] / ˈbɜr sər, -sɑr /

noun

1. a treasurer or business officer, especially of a college or university.

2. (in the Middle Ages) a university student.

3. Chiefly Scot. a student attending a university on a scholarship.

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bursar British  

/ ˈbɜːsə /

noun

1. an official in charge of the financial management of a school, college, or university

2. a student holding a bursary

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Other Word Forms

• underbursar noun

Etymology

Origin of bursar

1400–50; < Medieval Latin bursārius a purse-keeper, treasurer ( bursa, -ar ² ); replacing late Middle English bouser, variant of bourser < Anglo-French; Old French borsier

Example Sentences

That individual then took on the role of an inexperienced school bursar - an administrator - who pretended to not know what was going on.

From BBC • May 1, 2025

She was also the bursar at the Ryleys school in Alderley Edge, and was very into amateur dramatics, so was part of the Wilmslow Green Room Society.

From The Guardian • Aug. 21, 2020

While her unlikely role as the quiet bursar to anti-immigration organizations has been previously reported, her motivation and engagement in the immigration issue remained largely hidden.

From New York Times • Aug. 14, 2019

Known as Sister Stefanie, she worked as a secretary and bursar of the mission's school for over 50 years.

From US News • Apr. 29, 2015

He nodded calmly and offered to escort me to the office of the bursar to ensure that there was no confusion regarding my admission “fee.”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss