academy

noun

acad·​e·​my ə-ˈka-də-mē 

plural academies

1

a

: a school usually above the elementary level

especially : a private high school

b

: a high school or college in which special subjects or skills are taught

c

: higher education

—used with the

the functions of the academy in modern society

2

Academy

a

: the school for advanced education founded by Plato

b

: the philosophical doctrines associated with Plato's Academy

3

: a society of learned persons organized to advance art, science, or literature

4

: a body of established opinion widely accepted as authoritative in a particular field

Did you know?

Our word academy comes from the Greek word Akademeia, the name of the park or grove outside of ancient Athens where the philosopher Plato taught his students. Just as schools and parks today are often named after famous persons, the Akademeia had been named in honor of a Greek hero, Akademos.

Synonyms of academy

• school

Examples of academy in a Sentence

an academy of the fine arts

Recent Examples on the Web

Last July in Sudan, the leader of the country’s armed forces survived a drone attack, allegedly by the rebel Rapid Support Forces, during a military academy graduation ceremony, Allen noted. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 27 Nov. 2025

The academy launched in 2015 and is held several times a year over the course of one week with different national cohorts from across Africa. —Literary Hub, 26 Nov. 2025

The private sports academy in Bradenton broke ground last Thursday on a 9,345-square-foot Aquatic Center, featuring a 10-lane, 54-by-25-meter pool that is larger than an Olympic swimming pool. —Jason Dill november 26, Miami Herald, 26 Nov. 2025

The Housing, Communities and Local Government department, led by secretary of state Steve Reed, gave its approval in a 266-page verdict after local planning issues had been raised over the site, where developers want to build 18 soundstages and a skills academy. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

in sense 2, borrowed from Latin Acadēmīa, borrowed from Greek Akadḗmeia, Akadēmía, from the name of the gymnasium near Athens where Plato taught, from Akádēmos, Attic mythological hero + -eia or -ia -y entry 2; in senses 1, 3, and 4 borrowed from French, Italian, & New Latin; French académie, borrowed from Italian & New Latin; Italian accademia, borrowed from New Latin academia, going back to Latin Acadēmīa

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

academy

noun

acad·​e·​my ə-ˈkad-ə-mē 

plural academies

1

a

: school entry 1 sense 1a

especially : a private high school

b

: an institution for training in special subjects or skills

military academy

2

: an organization of people specializing in knowledge in a particular subject

Etymology

Greek Akadēmeia, the grove outside Athens where Plato had his school

Word Origin

Our word academy comes from the Greek word Akadēmeia, the name of the park or grove outside of ancient Athens where the philosopher Plato taught his students. Just as schools and parks today are often named after famous persons, the Akadēmeia had been named in honor of a Greek hero, Akadēmos.