tuition
B2Formal, especially in financial contexts; neutral in educational contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The fee charged for instruction, especially at a school, college, or university.
The process of being taught or the act of teaching itself; private or individual instruction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a non-count noun referring to both the fee and the act of teaching. When referring to the fee, it is often pluralized in British English ('tuition fees') but remains singular in American English ('tuition'). The 'act of teaching' sense is more formal and less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'tuition' often requires 'fee(s)' to specify the monetary aspect (e.g., 'university tuition fees'). In US English, 'tuition' alone suffices. The private teaching sense is slightly more common in UK English.
Connotations
In the US, strongly associated with the high cost of higher education. In the UK, the 'tuition fee' debate is politically charged.
Frequency
The 'fee' sense is significantly more frequent in both varieties than the 'act of teaching' sense.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
tuition for [subject/course]tuition in [subject]tuition at [institution]tuition from [teacher]tuition fees of/at [amount/institution]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None common. Formal phrases include 'under someone's tuition' (being taught by someone).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Budgeting for employee training programs: 'The company will cover the tuition for the certification course.'
Academic
Discussing higher education costs: 'Postgraduate tuition has risen by 5% this year.'
Everyday
Talking about children's activities: 'We pay for piano tuition every Thursday.'
Technical
Used in educational policy and finance reports.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The college does not tuition students directly for this workshop.
American English
- This program tuitions its participants at a flat rate.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- The tuition fee structure is complex.
- She offers tuition services in mathematics.
American English
- The tuition payment plan is available online.
- He runs a tuition assistance program.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My parents pay for my school tuition.
- I have English tuition on Mondays.
- The university tuition is very expensive for international students.
- She gives private tuition in Spanish.
- Rising tuition fees are a major concern for prospective students.
- He received expert tuition from a former champion.
- The government's policy on tuition fee caps has been widely debated.
- Under the careful tuition of her mentor, her skills flourished.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TUition' is what you pay to the Uni(TU)versity.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A COMMODITY / EDUCATION IS A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'обучение' (the general process of learning/teaching). Focus on the financial or formal instructional aspect. 'Плата за обучение' is the closest equivalent for the fee sense. 'Репетиторство' is closer for the private teaching sense.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'tuition' as a countable noun for a single lesson (e.g., 'I have a tuition today' – incorrect). Confusing it with 'intuition'. Using 'tuitions' as a plural for the fee sense in American English.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'tuition' used CORRECTLY in its most common American sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In British English, they are often used together. In American English, 'tuition' alone typically refers to the fee.
Yes, but this is a more formal and less frequent usage (e.g., 'under his tuition'). In everyday language, 'teaching', 'tutoring', or 'lessons' are more common.
Primarily uncountable. You don't say 'two tuitions' for two payments. You might refer to 'two tuition payments' or, informally, 'two tuition sessions' for lessons.
They are completely different. 'Tuition' is about teaching or fees. 'Intuition' is a gut feeling or instinctive understanding.
Collections
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Education
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