academy

noun

acad·​e·​my ə-ˈka-də-mē 

plural academies

1

a

: a school usually above the elementary level

especially : a private high school

b

: a high school or college in which special subjects or skills are taught

c

: higher education

—used with the

the functions of the academy in modern society

2

capitalized

a

: the school for advanced education founded by Plato

b

: the philosophical doctrines associated with Plato's Academy

3

: a society of learned persons organized to advance art, science, or literature

4

: a body of established opinion widely accepted as authoritative in a particular field

Did you know?

Our word academy comes from the Greek word Akademeia, the name of the park or grove outside of ancient Athens where the philosopher Plato taught his students. Just as schools and parks today are often named after famous persons, the Akademeia had been named in honor of a Greek hero, Akademos.

Synonyms

• academe
• school
• seminary

Examples of academy in a Sentence

an academy of the fine arts

Recent Examples on the Web

There will be a free Flow Yoga class in the breezeway at 2 p.m. Donations will be accepted at the event for The Flower Fields Foundation, which offers educational and enrichment programs for kids in schools, Scouts and charter/academy programs. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024

In Bordighera, Sinner lived with the young family of a Croatian coach who worked at the academy, Luka Cvjetkovic. —Abby Aguirre, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2024

Utah officials ordered a for-profit academy to shut down after children died in its care. —Tyler Kingkade, NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024

A lot of young players now, with their academy education, are able to do that. —Sam Pilger, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

And new arrivals haven’t kept up — with the last two academy classes of just 23 apiece. —Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024

But a new report by the academy, published in March 2021, takes a more supportive stance on geoengineering and advises that the US government invest $200 million in research. —Sabrina Weiss, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024

The nominations were carried live on German TV, with German Culture Minister Claudia Roth presenting the nominees together with film academy presidents: Actress Alexandra-Maria Lara (Downfall) and director Florian Gallenberger (John Rabe). —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024

Members of Everly's dance academy were invited to perform on The Jennifer Hudson Show, and of course, Dewan was a super-proud mom. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

in sense 2, borrowed from Latin Acadēmīa, borrowed from Greek Akadḗmeia, Akadēmía, from the name of the gymnasium near Athens where Plato taught, from Akádēmos, Attic mythological hero + -eia or -ia -y entry 2; in senses 1, 3, and 4 borrowed from French, Italian, & New Latin; French académie, borrowed from Italian & New Latin; Italian accademia, borrowed from New Latin academia, going back to Latin Acadēmīa

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

academy

noun

acad·​e·​my ə-ˈkad-ə-mē 

plural academies

1

a

: school entry 1 sense 1a

especially : a private high school

b

: an institution for training in special subjects or skills

military academy

2

: an organization of people specializing in knowledge in a particular subject

Etymology

Greek Akadēmeia, the grove outside Athens where Plato had his school

Word Origin

Our word academy comes from the Greek word Akadēmeia, the name of the park or grove outside of ancient Athens where the philosopher Plato taught his students. Just as schools and parks today are often named after famous persons, the Akadēmeia had been named in honor of a Greek hero, Akadēmos.