attainment

noun

at·​tain·​ment ə-ˈtān-mənt How to pronounce attainment (audio)
1
: the act of attaining something : the condition of being attained
She values educational attainment above all else.
2
: something attained : accomplishment
His scientific attainments are well known.

Examples of attainment in a Sentence

She values educational attainment above all else. Her scientific attainments have made her quite well-known in the field of biology.
Recent Examples on the Web The country places 145th for economic participation, 135th for educational attainment, 143rd for health and survival, and 95th for political empowerment. Hasan Ali, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Nov. 2023 No place in Virginia suffers a worse combination of violent crime, bad health outcomes and poor educational attainment. Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023 Since the program has been implemented, Nguyen said that the community has seen tangible improvements in educational attainment and school experiences. Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 27 Sep. 2023 These factors are part of socioeconomic status; this is more than income, and includes social class, educational attainment as well as opportunities and privileges afforded to people in our society. Fay Cobb Payton, Scientific American, 12 Sep. 2023 However, educational attainment among Hispanics in the U.S. is rising and could bolster their income growth in the coming years. Ruth Umoh, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2023 Well, both screening tests and cognitive batteries are often biased against people with lower educational attainment and from minority backgrounds, among other factors. Anna Chodos, STAT, 4 Oct. 2023 Southeast Asian groups, for example, have lower levels of educational attainment, with American Community Survey data from 2006-2008 — around when the designation was implemented — showing that roughly two-thirds of Cambodian, Laotian and Hmong Americans had not attended college, SEARAC has noted. Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 27 Sep. 2023 History of malnutrition: Malnutrition during childhood can stunt growth, while nutrient-rich diets can promote growth and attainment of growth potential. Maria Carter, Parents, 14 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'attainment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see attain

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of attainment was in 1543

Dictionary Entries Near attainment

Cite this Entry

“Attainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attainment. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

attainment

noun
at·​tain·​ment ə-ˈtān-mənt How to pronounce attainment (audio)
1
: the act of attaining : the state of being attained
2
: something attained : accomplishment

More from Merriam-Webster on attainment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!