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.
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
Joe Kozlowski, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
With the idea of building a bomb in the imminent future rejected by the academic community, the Soviet government had little incentive to dedicate funds and resources to the project as the prospect of conventional war loomed closer.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
JSTOR Daily, 25 Oct. 2025
Lewis, vice president of academics at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, was not involved with the study.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for academic
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Adjective
Beyond that, working on the academic and coaching side of things has also provided an additional perspective.
—Joe Kozlowski, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
With the idea of building a bomb in the imminent future rejected by the academic community, the Soviet government had little incentive to dedicate funds and resources to the project as the prospect of conventional war loomed closer.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
In the five years just before war set in, these were among the dwellings that had beguiled Heinz Gaube (1940–2022), a German academic at the Oriental Seminar of the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen.
—JSTOR Daily, 25 Oct. 2025
Lewis, vice president of academics at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, was not involved with the study.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for academic
Cite this Entry
“Academic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/academic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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