pedagogy

noun

ped·​a·​go·​gy ˈpe-də-ˌgō-jē How to pronounce pedagogy (audio)
 also  -ˌgä-,
especially British
-ˌgä-gē How to pronounce pedagogy (audio)
: the art, science, or profession of teaching
especially : education sense 2

Did you know?

We Will Teach You the History of Pedagogy

Since in Greek agogos means "leader", a paidagogos was a slave who led boys to school and back, but also taught them manners and tutored them after school. In time, pedagogue came to mean simply "teacher;" today the word has an old-fashioned ring to it, so it often means a stuffy, boring teacher. The word pedagogy, though, is still widely used, and often means simply "teaching". And pedagogic training is what everyone majoring in education receives.

Example Sentences

Some of the presentations, a few too many for comfort, lapsed into the familiar contortions of modern pedagogy. Alex Ross, New Yorker, 14 & 21 July 2003
The idea that pedagogy should be judged according to race is absurd on its face, but the fact that they saw their relationship with me and with the school itself in those terms should have given me greater pause than it did. Gerald Early, Lure and Loathing, 1993
Since no textbooks existed, the professor refused to profess, knowing no more than his students, and the students read what they pleased and compared their results. As pedagogy, nothing could be more triumphant. Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams, 1907
Recent Examples on the Web This is partly because improved pedagogy is being seen as a way to diversify the profession. The Economist, 18 Mar. 2021 During the training, NIU faculty experts will speak on how to make classrooms and pedagogy more inclusive, with an emphasis on access, equity, and inclusion. Nikolas Lanum, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2023 Workers covering for each other at short-staffed public schools The high school will include curriculum in pedagogy, instructional practices, and career and technical courses focused on education careers, on top of the core curriculum. Claire Bryan, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Jan. 2022 Families who come to Adventure Nannies for help are looking for people with a host of skills: fluency in multiple languages, expertise in particular pedagogies, practice in horseback riding and hiking, and even experience with molecular gastronomy. Trey Williams, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2023 At the other ninety-five per cent, the humanities are already combining traditional pedagogy with newer approaches. Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2023 His pedagogy offered something that wasn’t widely available elsewhere. Charles Mcnulty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2023 The title also communicates the author’s genuine enthusiasm for pedagogy. Sadie Stein, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2022 Malcolm: This is really common, in terms of California pedagogy. The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, 1 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pedagogy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see pedagogue

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pedagogy was circa 1623

Dictionary Entries Near pedagogy

Cite this Entry

“Pedagogy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedagogy. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

pedagogy

noun
ped·​a·​go·​gy ˈped-ə-ˌgōj-ē How to pronounce pedagogy (audio)
also
-ˌgäj-ˌē How to pronounce pedagogy (audio)
: the art, science, or profession of teaching : education
pedagogical
-i-kəl
adjective
pedagogically
-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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