academic

adjective

ac·a·dem·ic | \ ˌa-kə-ˈde-mik

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

Definition of academic

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

3a : 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

noun

Definition of academic (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : 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.

Other Words from academic Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about academic

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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 discourses in the academic art world are still pretty much against representation. — Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, "In Her First Solo Museum Snow, Jordan Casteel’s Humanizing Portraits Get Even Closer," 15 Jan. 2019 As for the costs, a major academic study in 2016 by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found the job impacts of immigration, when measured over at least 10 years, are very small. — Hope Yen, The Seattle Times, "AP fact check: Trump isn’t holed up nonstop at White House," 14 Jan. 2019 Things took longer to resolve for the student advisers and academic student workers. — Kim Kelly, Teen Vogue, "Education Workers on Campuses Around the Country Are Demanding Better Labor Conditions," 10 Jan. 2019 He's declaration—made on YouTube, as opposed to an academic setting—was widely condemned by the world's scientific community. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "CRISPR Baby Scientist Could Face Death Penalty, Colleague Fears," 8 Jan. 2019 Minhae Shim Roth is an essayist, journalist, and academic. — Minhae Shim Roth, Glamour, "My Reward for Having a Baby? A $1,000 Gucci Bag," 7 Jan. 2019 There is a group of 10 scientists from around the world who get together once a year to talk about their academic findings. — Angela Chen, The Verge, "Why we don’t have a hangover cure yet," 21 Dec. 2018 Wylie added that the data was obtained from an app developed by an academic that vacuumed up data from Facebook users who agreed to fill out a survey, as well as their friends and contacts — a process of which most were unaware. — Samuel Chamberlain, Fox News, "Lawmakers demand answers from Facebook after claim that analytics firm snatched user data for Trump campaign," 2 Oct. 2018 As a journalist and an academic, I was used to rewarding myself with rest and luxury after an intense period of work. — Minhae Shim Roth, Glamour, "My Reward for Having a Baby? A $1,000 Gucci Bag," 7 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

My childhood was really focused more heavily on academics, and the performing arts stuff was more a way of being free. — Corey Seymour, Vogue, "Opera Star Isabel Leonard on Singing for Sesame Street, Dancing to Pitbull, And Performing for Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court," 1 Feb. 2019 See the full look here: During this morning's engagement, Meghan will meet with students and academics from the Association of Commonwealth Universities' 500 member institutions. — Maggie Maloney, Town & Country, "Meghan Markle Wore a Black Givenchy Coat to the Association of Commonwealth Universities," 31 Jan. 2019 The presence of such players—who inevitably become leaders on their college teams—may have helped spread the underemphasis on academics that already afflicts too many student athletes. — Andrew Zimbalist, WSJ, "NBA Players Don’t Need College," 24 Oct. 2018 Ryan Gallagher reports: Google is a member of the Global Network Initiative, or GNI, a digital rights organization that works with a coalition of companies, human rights groups, and academics. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "Instagram’s verification system is useful, fair, and Twitter should copy it," 29 Aug. 2018 The school, which is in North Bethesda, Md., and has about 500 students, prides itself on its emphasis on academics and commitment to serving others. — Sarah Mervosh, New York Times, "Kavanaugh and Gorsuch Both Went to the Same Elite Prep School," 10 July 2018 Parr transferred to Duquesne after the season while Driskel quit football to focus on academics. — Shandel Richardson, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Indiana quarterback Nick Tronti plans to transfer to FAU," 26 June 2018 George Fabula said his son remained focused on academics and athletics, even after the loss of his mother. — David Anderson, The Aegis, "Fallston High's Class of 2018 reflects on their pasts and futures," 31 May 2018 If The Academy transitions to full NEPSAC membership, local student-athletes will continue to have an array of athletic opportunities and The Academy will continue to make admissions decisions based on academics. — Courant Community, "Community News For The Putnam Edition," 3 Apr. 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.

History and Etymology for academic

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

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