Word
stipend
US/ˈstaɪpənd/
UK/stˈaɪpənd/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a fixed amount of money paid regularly to someone, often to cover living costs while they study or do research. It is usually not a full salary for a job.
n. a regular fixed sum of money paid for services or to defray expenses. Often associated with academic fellowships, internships, or religious offices rather than standard hourly or salaried employment.
Examples
“The university provides a monthly stipend for graduate students.”
“As part of the internship program, the company offers a small stipend to help cover the cost of commuting and lunch.”
“While the research fellowship does not offer a full professional salary, the provided stipend is sufficient to cover basic living expenses in most university towns.”
Examples
simple
“The university provides a monthly stipend for graduate students.”
contextual
“As part of the internship program, the company offers a small stipend to help cover the cost of commuting and lunch.”
complex
“While the research fellowship does not offer a full professional salary, the provided stipend is sufficient to cover basic living expenses in most university towns.”
Usage
Often paired with the preposition 'for' to indicate the purpose or recipient.
Pitfall
He earns a high stipend at the law firm.
He earns a high salary at the law firm.
A stipend is a modest allowance for expenses or training; 'salary' is the correct term for professional employment pay.
Real-World Examples
“One study found that only 10% of California drivers are receiving the healthcare stipend that the law established.” “Wages or stipends even the playing field with the adults, who are also being paid to work for the good of the city.” Etymology
The noun is derived from Late Middle English stipend, stipende (“salary, wage”) [and other forms], from Old French stipende, stipendie, from Latin stīpendium (“contribution; dues; impost, tax; tribute; military pay or stipend; military service”), from stipipendium, stippendium, from stips (“alms; contribution, donation, gift”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steyp- (“erect; stiff”)) + pendere (the present active infinitive of pendō (“to cause to hang down or suspend; to weigh, weigh out; (hence) to pay”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)pend- (“to pull; to spin; to stretch”)) + -ium (suffix forming abstract nouns). The verb is derived from the noun. Cognates * Italian stipendio * Portuguese estipêndio * Spanish estipendio
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
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