# stipend

/ˈstaɪpənd/ (US) · /stˈaɪpənd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stipend
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He earns a high stipend at the law firm." but "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.

## Usage notes

- Often paired with the preposition 'for' to indicate the purpose or recipient.

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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.