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 of academic

Adjective

• educational
• scholarly

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

Under the new Department of Homeland Security rule, F student visas and J exchange visitor visas will be granted for the length of a participant’s academic or exchange program, with a maximum stay of four years. — Tom Gantert, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2026

The organization had developed language almost twenty years earlier opposing the academic boycott of Israel, making PEN America the only PEN chapter to have a policy opposing a vital form of political expression. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026

Noun

Students spend about two hours a day on core academics with an AI tutor rather than traditional teachers. — Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026

This story is based on dozens of interviews with Jean, her friends and colleagues, law enforcement officials, psychologists, academics and experts in the field of romance scams, as well as a review of more than 10,000 messages. — Juliet Linderman, Fortune, 16 July 2026

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

Rhymes for academic

• epidemic
• epistemic
• anaemic
• endemic
• glycemic
• pandemic
• polemic
• systemic
• chemic
• remic
• hypovolemic
• nonacademic

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