scholastic

1 of 2

adjective

scho·​las·​tic skə-ˈla-stik 

1

a

often Scholastic : of or relating to Scholasticism

scholastic theology

scholastic philosophy

b

: suggestive or characteristic of a scholastic especially in subtlety or aridity : pedantic

dull scholastic reports

2

: of or relating to schools or scholars

especially : of or relating to high school or secondary school

scholastically

skə-ˈla-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

scholastic

2 of 2

noun

1

a

Scholastic : a Scholastic philosopher

b

: pedant, formalist

2

[New Latin scholasticus, from Latin scholasticus, adjective] : a student in a college-level school of general study for those preparing for membership in a Roman Catholic religious order

3

: a person who adopts academic or traditional methods in art

Synonyms of scholastic

Adjective

• educational
• academic
• scholarly

Examples of scholastic in a Sentence

Adjective

a college that gives a higher priority to scholastic endeavors than to athletic pursuits

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Morris played both baseball and football in high school, and was a scholastic All-State quarterback who reportedly turned down 20 collegiate offers to sign with the Phillies for $25,000 in 1960. —Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025

For true scholastic style, pair it with penny loafers or Mary Janes. —Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025

Noun

Student athletes are expected to balance competition with scholastics, a once sacrosanct ideal that’s getting overshadowed as intercollegiate sports increasingly resembles the pros. —Paige Williams, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025

This includes showcasing the university's stand-out student musicians and athletes, faculty members, and scholastics. —Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 22 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin scholasticus of the schoolmen, from Latin, of a school, from Greek scholastikos, from scholazein to keep a school, from scholē school

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for scholastic

• aplastic
• bombastic
• dynastic
• dysplastic
• elastic
• fantastic
• gymnastic
• monastic
• sarcastic
• silastic
• stochastic
• aeroelastic

Kids Definition

scholastic

adjective

scho·​las·​tic

skə-ˈlas-tik

: of or relating to schools or scholars

scholastically

-ti-k(ə-)lē

adverb