academic

²academic

adj \-mi-kəl\

Definition of ACADEMIC

1

a : of, relating to, or associated with an academy or school especially of higher learning b : of or relating to performance in academic courses <academic excellence> c : very learned but inexperienced in practical matters <academic thinkers> d : based on formal study especially at an institution of higher learning

2

: of or relating to literary or artistic rather than technical or professional studies

3

a : theoretical, speculative <an academic question> b : having no practical or useful significance

4

: conforming to the traditions or rules of a school (as of literature or art) or an official academy : conventional <academic painting>

— ac·a·dem·i·cal·ly \-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Variants of ACADEMIC

academic also ac·a·dem·i·cal \-mi-kəl\

Examples of ACADEMIC

1. She received awards for her academic achievements.
2. I spent my academic career at one school.
3. The board set tough academic standards for graduation.
4. He was offered a teaching job and decided to return to academic life.
5. His interest in sailing is purely academic. He's not a sailor himself.
6. He's not very academic, but he's good with his hands.

First Known Use of ACADEMIC

1588

Related to ACADEMIC

Synonyms: educational, intellectual, scholarly, scholastic

Antonyms: nonacademic, noneducational, unacademic, unscholarly

Related Words: bookish, donnish, geeky, nerdish, nerdy, pedagogical (also pedagogic), pedantic, professorial, tweedy; curricular; educative, instructive; collegiate, graduate, postgraduate

Near Antonyms: cocurricular, extracurricular; noncollegiate

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Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis