scholarship

noun

schol·​ar·​ship ˈskä-lər-ˌship How to pronounce scholarship (audio)
1
: a grant-in-aid to a student (as by a college or foundation)
2
: the character, qualities, activity, or attainments of a scholar : learning
3
: a fund of knowledge and learning
drawing on the scholarship of the ancients
Choose the Right Synonym for scholarship

knowledge, learning, erudition, scholarship mean what is or can be known by an individual or by humankind.

knowledge applies to facts or ideas acquired by study, investigation, observation, or experience.

rich in the knowledge of human nature

learning applies to knowledge acquired especially through formal, often advanced, schooling.

a book that demonstrates vast learning

erudition strongly implies the acquiring of profound, recondite, or bookish learning.

an erudition unusual even in a scholar

scholarship implies the possession of learning characteristic of the advanced scholar in a specialized field of study or investigation.

a work of first-rate literary scholarship

Examples of scholarship in a Sentence

She got a scholarship to Yale University. The organization is offering five $5,000 scholarships. The essay is a work of serious scholarship. The book is about his life and scholarship.
Recent Examples on the Web Initiatives to encourage female participation include educational campaigns, scholarships for women in STEM and partnerships with international organizations. Filip Jovicevic, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024 The foundation also provides scholarships, having given away $20,000 worth last year and $18,000 this year so far. Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2024 The expansion of scholarship limits could have unintended consequences. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024 Her scholarship was central to its development, and the issue is personal to her: she was hospitalized with malaria while conducting research in Uganda. Solcyré Burga, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for scholarship 

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

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scholarship was circa 1536

Dictionary Entries Near scholarship

Cite this Entry

“Scholarship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scholarship. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

scholarship

noun
schol·​ar·​ship ˈskäl-ər-ˌship How to pronounce scholarship (audio)
1
: money given (as by a college) to a student to help pay for further education
2
: the character, qualities, or achievements of a scholar

More from Merriam-Webster on scholarship

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!