academic

1 of 2

adjective

ac·​a·​dem·​ic ˌa-kə-ˈde-mik 

variants or less commonly academical

ˌa-kə-ˈde-mi-kəl 

1

a

: of, relating to, or associated with an academy or school especially of higher learning

the academic curriculum

academic courses

b

: of or relating to performance in courses of study

academic excellence

academic achievements

c

: very learned but inexperienced in practical matters

academic thinkers

d

: based on formal study especially at an institution of higher learning

her academic qualifications

2

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

a region that has both academic and vocational high schools

3

a

: theoretical, speculative

a purely 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

academic

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a member (such as a professor) of an institution of learning (such as a university)

Both of her parents are academics.

b

: a person who is academic in background, outlook, or methods

2

academics plural, chiefly US : academic subjects : courses of study taken at a school or college

He has no interest in academics.

Synonyms

Adjective

• educational
• intellectual
• scholarly
• scholastic

Examples of academic in a Sentence

Adjective

She received awards for her academic achievements.

I spent my academic career at one school.

The board set tough academic standards for graduation.

He was offered a teaching job and decided to return to academic life.

His interest in sailing is purely academic. He's not a sailor himself.

He's not very academic, but he's good with his hands.

Noun

The book appeals to academics and to the general public.

He only cares about sports. He has no interest in academics.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The protest outside Doheny Memorial Library and in the center of academic buildings have been attended by many people who are not associated with USC, according to a letter to the USC community from Andrew T. Guzman, the university's provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024

Protesters called on the university to — among other demands — divest from companies that profit from or engage in Israel's war effort and refrain from associating with Israeli academic institutions and businesses, according to The Daily Princetonian. —Ayana Archie, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French achademique, academique, borrowed from Latin Acadēmicus "of the school of Plato," borrowed from Greek Akadēmeikós, Akadēmaikós, from Akadḗmeia, a place where Plato taught + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at academy

Noun

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French academique, borrowed from Latin Acadēmicus, noun derivative of Acadēmicus, adjective — more at academic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing academic

• academic freedom
• academic year
• anti-academic

Kids Definition

academic

adjective

ac·​a·​dem·​ic

ˌak-ə-ˈdem-ik

1

: of or relating to school or college

2

: literary or general rather than technical

took the academic course

3

: having no practical importance : theoretical

an academic question

academically

-ˈdem-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb