ac·a·dem·ic
ˌa-kə-ˈde-mik 
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
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.
Synonyms
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
Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
National Cares Mentoring Movement provides social and academic support to help Black youth succeed in college and beyond.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
More than half of the annual $90 billion in total academic spending on R&D in the country comes from the federal budget, according to a report published last year.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Downtown Boxing Gym is a nonprofit that has supported Detroit youth ages 8-18 through athletics as well as academic and mentoring support for nearly 17 years.
—Detroit Free Press, 11 Apr. 2024
Stratford offers various academic, specialty, day and sports camps to keep kids engaged all summer long.
—Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
With a focus on current and future students, Chancellor Leavitt is thinking creatively about the university’s academic and building infrastructure.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
The survey illustrates the extent to which the pandemic's unraveling of academic life still weighs heavily on the nation's public school teachers.
—S. Dev, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024
Why are scientists leaving academic labs? Interestingly, the number of graduate students — those pursuing master’s degrees and PhDs — in biomedical fields has grown by 22% between 2018 and 2022, according to the NSF survey.
—Eva Rothenberg, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024
Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
Experts share how the original three look like in the context of academics.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 12 Apr. 2024
The final report of the Cass Review, led by prominent pediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass and which includes research from independent academics at the University of York as well as input from families and clinicians was released on Wednesday.
—Reuters, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Over the course of our conversation, a revolving cast of supporting characters—dancers, academics, the members’ own children—clambered onto the bus to weigh in on a question or two before vanishing.
—Brad Sanders, SPIN, 10 Apr. 2024
Though Ngram is not perfect, many linguists and other academics use the tool for research gathering.
—Emilia David, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024
Based on state assessment proficiency and survey responses on academics from students and parents.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Welcome to the next Cincinnati Enquirer Student of the Week vote, honoring excellence in character, arts and academics among high school students April 1.
—Melanie Laughman, The Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2024
The academics with whom the science of crypto tracing originated acknowledge that it should not be applied as evidence in isolation, or mischaracterized as some sort of a smoking gun.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Anecdotal evidence and academic studies suggest that price increases will be moderate, averaging 7 to 12 percent.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
National Cares Mentoring Movement provides social and academic support to help Black youth succeed in college and beyond.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
More than half of the annual $90 billion in total academic spending on R&D in the country comes from the federal budget, according to a report published last year.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Downtown Boxing Gym is a nonprofit that has supported Detroit youth ages 8-18 through athletics as well as academic and mentoring support for nearly 17 years.
—Detroit Free Press, 11 Apr. 2024
Stratford offers various academic, specialty, day and sports camps to keep kids engaged all summer long.
—Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
With a focus on current and future students, Chancellor Leavitt is thinking creatively about the university’s academic and building infrastructure.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
The survey illustrates the extent to which the pandemic's unraveling of academic life still weighs heavily on the nation's public school teachers.
—S. Dev, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024
Why are scientists leaving academic labs? Interestingly, the number of graduate students — those pursuing master’s degrees and PhDs — in biomedical fields has grown by 22% between 2018 and 2022, according to the NSF survey.
—Eva Rothenberg, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024
Noun
As cities’ eight-year housing plans came due, talk of using the obscure provision began swirling on social media among academics and housing advocates.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
Experts share how the original three look like in the context of academics.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 12 Apr. 2024
The final report of the Cass Review, led by prominent pediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass and which includes research from independent academics at the University of York as well as input from families and clinicians was released on Wednesday.
—Reuters, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Over the course of our conversation, a revolving cast of supporting characters—dancers, academics, the members’ own children—clambered onto the bus to weigh in on a question or two before vanishing.
—Brad Sanders, SPIN, 10 Apr. 2024
Though Ngram is not perfect, many linguists and other academics use the tool for research gathering.
—Emilia David, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024
Based on state assessment proficiency and survey responses on academics from students and parents.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Welcome to the next Cincinnati Enquirer Student of the Week vote, honoring excellence in character, arts and academics among high school students April 1.
—Melanie Laughman, The Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2024
The academics with whom the science of crypto tracing originated acknowledge that it should not be applied as evidence in isolation, or mischaracterized as some sort of a smoking gun.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 27 Mar. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near academic
Cite this Entry
“Academic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/academic. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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