# OSCAR

/ˈɔskɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/oscar
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. film award

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a famous gold statue given every year to the best actors, directors, and films.

For teachers: an Academy Award, or the gold-plated statuette itself, presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

- The actress cried when she finally won an Oscar for her role in the drama.
- Winning an Oscar often serves as the pinnacle of a cinematic career, significantly increasing a performer's marketability and industry influence.

### 2. given name

noun · CEFR A2

a common name for a man or a boy.

For teachers: a male given name of Irish or Old English origin.

- My friend Oscar is coming over to help me fix my computer.
- The name Oscar saw a resurgence in popularity across several European countries during the late twentieth century.

### 3. phonetic code

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a code word used to represent the letter 'O' when speaking on the radio.

For teachers: the standardized code word for the letter 'O' in the NATO/ICAO phonetic alphabet.

- The pilot spelled out the tail number as Alpha, Bravo, Oscar.
- To ensure clarity over the distorted radio frequency, the dispatcher repeated the coordinates using Oscar to represent the letter O.

### 4. money

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Dialect · British English

a slang word for cash or money.

For teachers: a slang term for money, specifically cash; derived from rhyming slang 'Oscar Asche'.

- I would love to go to the concert, but I haven't got any Oscar.
- The old merchant was known for being tight with his Oscar, rarely spending a penny more than was absolutely necessary.

### 5. type of fish

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a large, colourful tropical fish often kept in home tanks.

For teachers: a species of South American cichlid, Astronotus ocellatus, popular in the aquarium trade for its intelligence and patterns.

- He bought a large tank because his pet Oscar was growing so quickly.
- Aquarists often prize the Oscar for its interactive personality, though its predatory nature requires careful selection of tank mates.

## Examples

- Don't be such an Oscar just because it's raining.
- He is a total Oscar in the mornings until he has had at least two cups of coffee.
- While usually the life of the party, he becomes a bit of an Oscar when forced to discuss his taxes or any other administrative burden.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.