tuition
too-ISH-uhn
/tuːˈɪʃ.ən/
A sum of money charged for teaching or instruction by a school, college, or university.
Refers strictly to instructional fees, explicitly excluding auxiliary charges like room, board, or student activities.
The story behind the word. In Latin, 'tuitio' meant guarding or protection. In medieval times, a tutor was literally a guardian of a young student. Over centuries, the care provided by tutors shifted toward formal academic instruction, and by the sixteenth century, 'tuition' had evolved to mean the fee paid for that instruction.
Word relationships
- instruction fee: 'Instruction fee' is more technical and bureaucratic, while 'tuition' is the standard overarching term.
- rebate: A rebate is money returned to a buyer, whereas tuition is a fee collected for services.
Commonly confused with
- tutelage: 'Tutelage' refers to the state of being under instruction or guardianship, not the money paid for it.
Word family
- tuitional (adjective): Relating to teaching or tuition fees.
Collocations
- tuition fees
- pay tuition
- tuition increase
- out-of-state tuition
Example sentences
- "The board of trustees voted to freeze undergraduate tuition rates for the upcoming academic year." University Policy
- "Rising college tuition has sparked widespread debate regarding the long-term affordability of higher education." Education Economics
Memory hook
Think of a TUTOR taking care of your INTUITION, for which you pay 'tuition'. Pay the tutor for tuition.
When not to use
Do not use 'tuition' to describe general living expenses or secondary service fees.
Fun facts
- In British English, 'tuition' often refers directly to the teaching itself (e.g., 'extra tuition in math'), whereas in American English, it almost exclusively refers to the fee charged.
Explore more words
educate, bursar, extracurricular, stipend, coeducation, curriculum
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