academically

adverb

ac·​a·​dem·​i·​cal·​ly ˌa-kə-ˈde-mi-k(ə-)lē 

: in an academic way: such as

a

: with regard to formal studies or academics

doing well academically

academically advanced students

And it has made them more appealing to colleges, which have grown more welcoming as they find that homeschoolers do fine academically.

—Linda Perlstein

… fans and coaches at academically elite institutions would say that, yes, they were handicapped by stricter admissions policies, but in the long run, brains win out over brawn.

—Mark Bechtel

b

: in a theoretical or speculative way without practical application

That scheme for bottling beer is interesting—but only academically. Down here, we don't bottle it, but drink it.

—H. L. Mencken

c

: in a way that conforms to the tradition or rules of a school (as of literature or art)

The big problems arise with his paintings as artworks. His audacity with the brush is vitiated by academically fussy composition.

—Peter Schjeldahl

Examples of academically in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Boys and men who have closer relationships with their mothers are more emotionally open, form stronger friendships, achieve higher academically, and are more likely to seek needed mental health care. —Sam Sussman september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025

There's less distractions academically. —Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025

Overall, only about a third of the high school seniors who took the math and reading assessment in 2024 — now sophomores in college — were considered academically prepared for college, down from about 37% in 2019. —Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025

Others are dissatisfied with how their school districts are doing academically. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1626, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for academically

• biochemically
• epistemically
• photochemically
• chemically
• systemically