# scholarship

/ˈskɑɫɝˌʃɪp/ (US) · /skˈɒləʃˌɪp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scholarship
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. financial aid for students

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- She won a full scholarship to study engineering at a top university.
- 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. academic study and knowledge

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

serious, detailed study of a subject by experts.

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

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

### 3. qualities of a scholar

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

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

For teachers: the character, standards, or attainments of an individual scholar.

- The book was praised for its deep scholarship and clear writing.
- His lifelong commitment to scholarship earned him the respect of his peers across the entire faculty.

## Examples

- She won a full scholarship to study engineering.
- The university offers several athletic scholarships to attract talented players to their basketball team each year.
- While the financial scholarship eased his tuition burden, he was equally impressed by the rigorous scholarship displayed in the professor's latest historical treatise.

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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.