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

Academy

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 of academy

• school

Examples of academy in a Sentence

an academy of the fine arts

Recent Examples on the Web

Across youth sports, affluent families are making enormous financial and logistical bets on their children’s athletic futures—relocating across state lines, buying second homes near top-tier academies, and spending well into six figures annually on tuition, private coaching, travel, and club teams. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2026

The contractors are vetted by the TSA, and once approved, the contractor’s employees involved in airport screening go through the same training that TSA officers go through, including time at the TSA academy. —Sheldon H. Jacobson, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026

Later that year, João continued his development by joining Hull City’s academy in September 2025. —Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026

The agency said that most of the new officers have already completed law enforcement academies. —Ryan J. Foley, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

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.