tuition

noun

tu·​ition tə-ˈwi-shən 

tyu̇-

1

: the price of or payment for instruction

2

: the act or profession of teaching : instruction

pursued his studies under private tuition

3

archaic : custody, guardianship

tuitional

tə-ˈwi-sh(ə-)nəl 

tyu̇-

adjective

Synonyms of tuition

• education
• teaching
• schooling
• instruction

Examples of tuition in a Sentence

Her uncle agreed to pay part of her tuition.

There's going to be a tuition increase next year.

Before the company transferred her to Mexico, they offered her private tuition in Spanish.

Recent Examples on the Web

What readers are saying The comments reflect a range of perspectives on the complexities of college financial aid and tuition costs. — Todd Wallack, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026

Philip Weinberg is President and CEO of STRIVE, a national workforce development solution offering tuition-free job-readiness training. — Philip Weinberg, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Her progressive credentials include leading a campaign to make the city’s community college tuition free and serving as California political director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

The health insurance offered through Montana State University was too expensive, Zulick said, almost as much as her tuition. — Aaron Bolton, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tuicioun protection, from Anglo-French, from Latin tuition-, tuitio, from tueri to look at, look after

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for tuition

• dition
• fission
• lycian
• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition

Kids Definition

tuition

noun

tu·​ition t(y)u̇-ˈish-ən 

: money paid for instruction (as at a college)