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

capitalized

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

• school

Examples of academy in a Sentence

an academy of the fine arts

Recent Examples on the Web

The academy also introduces students to university life. —Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

Kyrene del Norte, like Kyrene de los Lagos, would remain a dual-language school but become open enrollment only, and Kyrene del Milenio would be repurposed as a dedicated gifted academy. —Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 30 Oct. 2025

The project would build a three-story, 50-foot-tall building for a surf academy, shop and restaurant, with a second floor for fitness and yoga, with locker rooms and a lounge, and a third floor dedicated to office space and a VIP music recording studio. —Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025

One of the plaintiffs in the case was Tara Blunt, who, by this point, had withdrawn her son from public school and enrolled him at a private academy, despite the financial strain this imposed on her family. —Eyal Press, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 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.