academic

adjective ac·a·dem·ic \ ˌa-kə-ˈde-mik \

variants: or less commonly academical play \ˌa-kə-ˈde-mi-kəl\

Updated on: 22 May 2018

Definition of academic

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

—

academically

play \ˌa-kə-ˈde-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

- an academically gifted student

See academic defined for English-language learners

See academic defined for kids

Examples of academic in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of academic from the Web

Tina Berger, a spokesperson for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, said the new research is not just academic, as states are already witnessing the shift.

— frank kummer, Philly.com, "N.J. flounder, sea bass pushed north because of climate change, say scientists," 18 May 2018
That might sounds academic, but the show is a bouncy exploration of the shifting center of gravity in East-West relations in a theatrical package overflowing with Broadway showmanship.

— charles mcnulty, latimes.com, "'Soft Power' at the Ahmanson: Big, bold, overly complicated and spectacularly unique," 17 May 2018
The teams would produce models, practices, tools and other resources that are designed to achieve specific, measurable improvements in student outcomes (both academic and non-academic) across a large range of education contexts.

— valerie strauss, Washington Post, "A parent writes to Gates and Zuckerberg: You asked for advice on education. Here’s mine.," 16 May 2018
Soon after, more than 40 academic, civil rights, and community groups criticized the effort in an open letter.

— tom simonite, WIRED, "Tech Firms Move to Put Ethical Guard Rails Around AI," 16 May 2018
The DeKalb County graduates featured here have worked hard to achieve academic success.

— helena oliviero, ajc, "What it takes: DeKalb valedictorians share secrets to success," 16 May 2018
In addition to Okomoto's artistic excellence, all three winners were chosen based on academic success, essays, transcripts, community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

— betsy hammond, OregonLive.com, "Oregon's 3 new Presidential Scholars hail from Portland, Medford," 9 May 2018
Nell, an academic, tells a Kansas City cabdriver who is dropping her at her hotel.

— susan dominus, New York Times, "The Heroines in Curtis Sittenfeld’s First Story Collection Are All Grown Up," 8 May 2018
The latest data scandal involved political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica buying Facebook user data from an academic, violating the company’s terms of service.

— jonathan vanian, Fortune, "Facebook Is Getting Into the Dating Business," 1 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'academic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of academic

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 ¹-ic — more at academy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1581

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

academic Synonyms

Other Education Terms

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

academic

noun

Definition of academic

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.