academic freedom

noun

: freedom to teach or to learn without interference (as by government officials)

Examples of academic freedom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This could be read, and by many people was read, as a chilling assault on the principle of academic freedom, which courts have interpreted as a component of the First Amendment protection of free speech. Louis Menand, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025 The recent federal court ruling that the university cannot terminate the professor for his social media post exemplifies the ongoing tension between academic freedom and public accountability, with broad implications for First Amendment rights in educational settings. Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025 Critics argue the policy undermines free speech and academic freedom under the guise of protecting Jewish students. Jason Derose, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025 While the administration argues the threats on federal funding are aimed at campus antisemitism, Harvard University has labeled them an attack on academic freedom and federal spending, according to USA TODAY. Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for academic freedom

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of academic freedom was in 1863

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Cite this Entry

“Academic freedom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/academic%20freedom. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

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