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noun Common

Oscar

OS-kuh
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Oscar (noun) means the gold statuette awarded each year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievement in film; by extension, the award itself. Example: “She thanked her whole crew when she won the Oscar for best director.”

noun
1
The gold statuette awarded each year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievement in film; by extension, the award itself.
"She thanked her whole crew when she won the Oscar for best director."
"The film picked up three Oscars, including best picture."
2
A large, colourful freshwater fish (Astronotus ocellatus) popular in home aquariums.
"His oscar had grown almost a foot long in its tank."
name
1
A common male given name.
"They named their son Oscar after his grandfather."

How to use Oscar

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsually means the famous film award, or a type of pet fish.

Common pairings
win an Oscar Oscar-winning best picture Oscar
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Word forms

Plural
Oscars
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She thanked her whole crew when she won the _____ for best director.

Etymology

The award's nickname is of disputed origin — often credited to an Academy librarian who said the statuette reminded her of her uncle Oscar. The name itself blends an old Irish name meaning roughly "deer-friend" with an Old English name meaning "spear of God."

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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academy award statuette gong

Related words

bell medal gong statuette outhouse chime figurine

Frequently asked questions

What does “Oscar” mean?
The word “Oscar” means the gold statuette awarded each year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievement in film; by extension, the award itself. In plain terms, usually means the famous film award, or a type of pet fish.
How do you pronounce “Oscar”?
“Oscar” is pronounced OS-kuh (/ˈɑs.kɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Oscar” in a sentence?
Here is “Oscar” used in a sentence: “She thanked her whole crew when she won the Oscar for best director.”
What part of speech is “Oscar”?
Depending on how it is used, “Oscar” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “Oscar” come from?
The word “Oscar” comes from Old English.
Is “Oscar” a common word?
“Oscar” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Oscar” have?
“Oscar” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the gold statuette awarded each year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievement in film; by extension, the award itself.
What is the difference between an Oscar and an Academy Award?
They are the same thing. 'Oscar' is the popular nickname for the Academy Award, the gold statuette given each year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievement in film.
What is the difference between an Oscar and a Golden Globe?
An Oscar is awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and honours film only. The Golden Globes are awarded by a separate organisation and cover both film and television, making the two awards distinct in both source and scope.
Should 'Oscar' be capitalised when referring to the award?
Yes. As the trademarked name of the Academy Award, 'Oscar' is a proper noun and is always capitalised, as in 'she won an Oscar.' The unrelated Oscar fish is also capitalised because it derives from the same proper name.

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