academic

1 of 2

adjective

ac·​a·​dem·​ic ˌa-kə-ˈde-mik How to pronounce academic (audio)
variants or less commonly academical
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.

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
This can build a growth mindset in your kids, which is essential for navigating academic and social challenges. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024 Participants receive a stipend and academic credit for their internship. Juliette Fabien, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Eric knows that his son feels immense academic and athletic pressure to obtain a higher education and not mess up the head start his family has worked so hard to provide him. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Prudencio, Bolivia’s most important living composer, has been making music imbued with that essence since the early 1980s, creating ambitious orchestral pieces for traditional instruments while developing a synthesis of contemporary academic music and native Bolivian sounds. Javier Rodríguez-Camacho, SPIN, 7 Mar. 2024 As a fiery academic dealing with unsuspecting success, Wright out-curmudgeons the mighty Giamatti, gives an irascible grump a big heart, and, as one of our great character actors, makes the most of his spotlight. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 Intrigued, Pan applied to work there and was assigned to help with research on a book about academic health centers. Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2024 Schools may offer merit scholarships for academic or other achievements, as well as federal, state and school-specific grants. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 Having some people with more academic backgrounds is interesting as well. Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
Among the pigeon fanciers in the country are doctors, academics, high-level military, police, intelligence service officers and engineers, The Post reported in 2019. Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 The summer before college is a critical time to get a leg up on academics, intern in your field of interest, or volunteer with an organization you have been involved with throughout your high school years. Christopher Rim, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Schultz is a leading academic in the field of psychobiography, which applies psychological theory and research to the lives of important historical figures, from artists to politicians. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2024 Beginning at least in the 1980s, other artists of color — Kerry James Marshall, Kara Walker, Glenn Ligon — have also made important work about how black tones, on a surface, relate to the idea of a Black race, and that has been much studied among curators and academics. Blake Gopnik, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024 Factors considered to determine the rankings include academics, culture & diversity, parent/student surveys, teachers, clubs & activities, resources & facilities and sports, Niche says. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 Feb. 2024 Kemba speaks with experts from various fields to attack the use of lyrics on trial through conversations with rappers such as Killer Mike, as well as academics, politicians, legal experts and other music industry executives. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 26 Feb. 2024 At the same time, new laws in China have restricted foreign access to data once available to academics, researchers and Western companies. Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024 Nonetheless, the lack of citations likely impacts the careers of female academics. Kim Elsesser, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'academic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of academic was in 1581

Dictionary Entries Near academic

Cite this Entry

“Academic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/academic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

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