academy

noun acad·e·my \ ə-ˈka-də-mē \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Examples: academy in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of academy

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

See academy defined for English-language learners

See academy defined for kids

Examples of academy in a Sentence

an academy of the fine arts

Recent Examples of academy from the Web

As long as this preference exists academy products will need to be sent on loan in order to create a name for themselves.

— SI.com, "England's World Cup Success Demonstrates the Importance of the Loan System to Player Development," 12 July 2018
Curtin said, specifically noting academy products Anthony Fontana, Matthew Real and Derrick Jones.

— jonathan tannenwald, Philly.com, "Jim Curtin hopes Union's wild 4-3 win at Chicago Fire is a turning point for season," 12 July 2018
In May 2014, amid a downsizing of the Army after combat operations in Iraq temporarily ended and missions in Afghanistan slowed, a class of 290 New York fire academy graduates gathered to become probationary firemen.

— alex horton, Washington Post, "Two of ‘New York City’s bravest’ died in the line of duty — thousands of miles from home," 17 Mar. 2018
Reyes was working at the academy when Acevedo was hired as chief in 2007 amid a Justice Department investigation into allegations of racially tinged excessive force on the part of officers, including deadly shootings.

— steve miletich, The Seattle Times, "‘He’s just a doer’: Meet Seattle police-chief candidate Ely Reyes," 9 July 2018
If that happens, Medunjanin would be the second ex-player with World Cup experience at the academy, after Brazilian midfielder Kléberson.

— jonathan tannenwald, Philly.com, "Union keep Haris Medunjanin for 2019 season with contract extension," 5 July 2018
Not only are there four years of classes and grueling physical training, but there is a five-year commitment to serve in the Navy or in the Marine Corps for everyone at the academy.

— terry monahan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Poway wrestling program a pipeline to Naval Academy," 28 June 2018
At the academy, players’ days are scheduled down to the minute.

— james wagner, New York Times, "A Nightmare for Mexico’s Soccer Opponents: More Chuckys On the Way," 27 June 2018
Fu, who is also a researcher at the academy, meanwhile had been attempting to extract panda DNA from other fossils for several years to no avail.

— National Geographic, "Long-Lost Panda Relative Revealed by 22,000-Year-Old Fossil," 18 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'academy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

Origin and Etymology of academy

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 ²-y; 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1549

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

academy Synonyms

Synonyms

school, seminary;

elementary school, grammar school, high school, junior high school, kindergarten, middle school, primary school, public school, secondary school, senior high school, trade school, training school;

charter school, magnet school, minischool;

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

ACADEMY Defined for English Language Learners

academy

noun

Definition of academy for English Language Learners

: a school that provides training in special subjects or skills
: a private high school
: an organization of people who work to support art, science, or literature

ACADEMY Defined for Kids

academy

noun acad·e·my \ ə-ˈka-də-mē \

Definition of academy for Students

plural academies

1 : a private high school

2 : a high school or college where special subjects are taught

a military academy

3 : an organization which supports art, science, or literature

History for academy

In ancient Greece, a philosopher named Plato started a school at a public exercise field. The field and nearby groves of trees were named for a hero of Greek legend. The English word academy came from the name of the hero for whom Plato's school was named.