bursar
Americannoun
-
a treasurer or business officer, especially of a college or university.
-
(in the Middle Ages) a university student.
-
Chiefly Scot. a student attending a university on a scholarship.
noun
-
an official in charge of the financial management of a school, college, or university
-
a student holding a bursary
Other Word Forms
- underbursar noun
Etymology
Origin of bursar
1400–50; < Medieval Latin bursārius a purse-keeper, treasurer ( see bursa, -ar 2); replacing late Middle English bouser, variant of bourser < Anglo-French; Old French borsier
Explanation
A bursar is the head of a college's financial office. When you pay your tuition for the semester, you'll send the money to the bursar. Colleges, universities, and private schools have bursars, who are responsible for the finances of the school. The bursar's job might include balancing the books, sending bills to students and their families, and receiving payments. You could also call the bursar the controller or the treasurer. The word comes from the Medieval Latin bursarius, "purse-bearer," from bursa, or "purse."
Vocabulary lists containing bursar
The Vocabulary of College
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
I Will Always Write Back
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Secret History
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That individual then took on the role of an inexperienced school bursar - an administrator - who pretended to not know what was going on.
From BBC • May 1, 2025
While her unlikely role as the quiet bursar to anti-immigration organizations has been previously reported, her motivation and engagement in the immigration issue remained largely hidden.
From New York Times • Aug. 14, 2019
Known as Sister Stefanie, she worked as a secretary and bursar of the mission's school for over 50 years.
From US News • Apr. 29, 2015
His father used to be the bursar at Roedean girls' school, for heaven's sake.
From The Guardian • Feb. 1, 2013
Obinze told her nothing would happen, suggested she speak to the bursar about getting on a payment plan so that she would at least have taken some action.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
