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noun Uncommon

academia

ak-uh-DEE-mih-uh

Academia (noun) means the world of universities, teaching, and scholarly research, considered as a whole. Example: “After years in industry, she returned to academia to teach.”

noun
1
The world of universities, teaching, and scholarly research, considered as a whole.
"After years in industry, she returned to academia to teach."
"Academia can be a slow and competitive place to build a career."

How to use academia

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe whole world of colleges, professors, and scholarly research, as opposed to industry or the general public.

Common pairings
a career in academia leave academia
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After years in industry, she returned to _____ to teach.

Etymology

From New Latin academia, tracing back to the Academy, the grove near Athens where Plato taught his students.

Origin: New Latin

the academy scholarly world academic community

Rhymes for academia

See all rhymes for academia →

Frequently asked questions

What does “academia” mean?

The word “academia” means the world of universities, teaching, and scholarly research, considered as a whole. In plain terms, the whole world of colleges, professors, and scholarly research, as opposed to industry or the general public.

How do you pronounce “academia”?

“Academia” is pronounced ak-uh-DEE-mih-uh (/ˌæk.əˈdi.mi.ə/ in IPA).

How do you use “academia” in a sentence?

Here is “academia” used in a sentence: “After years in industry, she returned to academia to teach.”

What part of speech is “academia”?

“Academia” is a noun.

Where does the word “academia” come from?

The word “academia” comes from New Latin. From New Latin academia, tracing back to the Academy, the grove near Athens where Plato taught his students.

Is “academia” a common word?

“Academia” is an uncommon word in modern English.

What is the difference between academia and academics?

Academia refers broadly to the world of universities, teaching, and scholarly research as a whole. Academics, by contrast, usually refers either to the individual people who work in that world or to coursework and study itself, making it a narrower or more specific term.

Does academia refer to a place or to a group of people?

Academia refers to the entire institutional and cultural world of higher education and research rather than a single building or campus. It encompasses the people, institutions, and practices of scholarly life collectively.

Is academia the same as "the academy"?

Academia and "the academy" are used in very similar ways to describe the scholarly and university world as a whole. Academia is the more common and widely used term in everyday and journalistic writing.

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