English Reference
noun

scholarship

n.
US /ˈskɑɫɝˌʃɪp/ UK /skˈɒləʃˌɪp/ schol·ar·ship UK spelling scholarship's, scholarship's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    money given by a school, college, or organisation to help a student pay for their education.

    a grant-in-aid awarded to a student based on academic merit or financial need to support their education.

    Simple

    She won a full scholarship to study engineering at a top university.

    In context

    The university offers several athletic scholarships to attract talented players who might otherwise struggle to afford the tuition fees.

    Usage

    Often used with the verbs 'award', 'win', or 'apply for'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Academic

    serious, detailed study of a subject by experts.

    the methods, discipline, and collective body of knowledge produced by academic researchers.

    Simple

    The professor is famous for her excellent scholarship in ancient history.

    In context

    Recent scholarship suggests that the document was actually written much later than previously assumed by historians.

    Usage

    Uncountable in this sense; often modified by adjectives like 'rigorous', 'meticulous', or 'recent'.

    learningeruditionresearch
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Formal

    the high quality of someone's work and their dedication to learning.

    the character, standards, or attainments of an individual scholar.

    Simple

    The book was praised for its deep scholarship and clear writing.

    In context

    His lifelong commitment to scholarship earned him the respect of his peers across the entire faculty.

    academic excellence

Usage scholarship found · scholarship their achievements

After being released in 2015 when he was a teenager, he took a scholarship in America.

The Guardian· 17 Aug 2026

JSTOR Daily provides context for current events using scholarship found in JSTOR, a digital library of academic journals, books, and other material.

JSTOR Daily· 14 Aug 2026

From scholar + -ship.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated