ENGLISH
REFERENCE

scholarship

n.
US //ˈskɑɫɝˌʃɪp// UK //skˈɒləʃˌɪp// schol·ar·ship
  1. 1 financial aid for students (n.)
    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.

    Example

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

    Example

    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. 2 academic study and knowledge (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    serious, detailed study of a subject by experts.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    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'.

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  1. 3 qualities of a scholar (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

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

    • academic excellence
Origin

From scholar + -ship.

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