academic

[ ak-uh-dem-ik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a college, academy, school, or other educational institution:

   academic requirements.

2. pertaining to areas of study that are not primarily vocational or applied, as the humanities or pure mathematics.

   Synonyms: liberal, humanist

3. theoretical or hypothetical; not practical, realistic, or directly useful:

   an academic question;

   an academic discussion of a matter already decided.

4. learned or scholarly but lacking in worldliness, common sense, or practicality.

   Synonyms: theoretical

5. conforming to set rules, standards, or traditions; conventional:

   academic painting.

6. acquired by formal education, especially at a college or university:

   academic preparation for the ministry.

7. Academic, of or relating to Academe or to the Platonic school of philosophy.

noun

1. a student or teacher at a college or university.
2. a person who is academic in background, attitudes, methods, etc.:

   He was by temperament an academic, concerned with books and the arts.

3. Academic, a person who supports or advocates the Platonic school of philosophy.
4. academics, the scholarly activities of a school or university, as classroom studies or research projects:

   more emphasis on academics and less on athletics.

academic

/ ˌækəˈdɛmɪk /

adjective

1. belonging or relating to a place of learning, esp a college, university, or academy
2. of purely theoretical or speculative interest

   an academic argument

3. excessively concerned with intellectual matters and lacking experience of practical affairs
4. (esp of a schoolchild) having an aptitude for study
5. conforming to set rules and traditions; conventional

   an academic painter

6. relating to studies such as languages, philosophy, and pure science, rather than applied, technical, or professional studies

noun

1. a member of a college or university

Derived Forms

• ˌacaˈdemically, adverb

Other Words From

• an·ti·ac·a·dem·ic adjective noun
• in·ter·ac·a·dem·ic adjective
• non·ac·a·dem·ic adjective noun
• pro·ac·a·dem·ic adjective
• pseu·do·ac·a·dem·ic adjective
• qua·si-ac·a·dem·ic adjective
• sem·i·ac·a·dem·ic adjective
• sub·ac·a·dem·ic adjective
• un·ac·a·dem·ic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of academic¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin Acadēmicus, from Greek Akadēmeikós. See academy, academe, -ic

Synonym Study

See formal.

Example Sentences

Geological Survey, was conducted using cutting-edge geospatial data and modeling tools developed in collaboration with academic institutions and government agencies.

From Science Daily

"I'm incredibly grateful to Rhianon working with the force. It's important we don't only look at academic work, but lived experience and learn from that," she said.

From BBC

He also says a governing board of academics ensured the rigor of his work.

From Science Magazine

He expected those delivering student support, digital and tech staff supporting academic staff, library staff and those helping academics to win bids and bring in revenue would be among those affected.

From BBC

He did not prosper in Britain’s selective education system of the time, which streamed children’s academic futures via an examination at age 11.

From New York Times

Related Words

• collegiate
• intellectual
• scholarly
• scholastic