academic
ak-uh-DEHM-ihk
Academic (adj) means relating to schools, universities, or formal education and scholarship. Example: “She has an impressive academic record from her time at university.”
adj
1
Relating to schools, universities, or formal education and scholarship.
"She has an impressive academic record from her time at university."
"The professor focuses on academic research rather than teaching."
"The school is proud of its strong academic results this year."
2
Theoretical rather than practical; of no real practical consequence.
"Whether we could have won is academic now — the game is over."
"Arguing about who started the quarrel is purely academic by now."
"For a small shop without funds, opening a second branch is an academic question."
noun
1
A person who works or studies at a university, especially as a teacher or researcher.
"Several leading academics contributed to the report."
"My aunt is an academic who teaches medieval history at a university."
"Many academics attended the conference to share their latest research."
How to use academic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to school/university learning, or (in a second sense) purely theoretical with no practical stakes.
Common mistake
When people say a question is "purely academic," they mean it doesn't actually matter in practice — not that it relates to school.
Common pairings
academic year
academic achievement
purely academic
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Word forms
- Plural
- academics
- Comparative
- more academic
- Superlative
- most academic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She has an impressive _____ record from her time at university.
Etymology
From Greek akademikos, referring to Plato's Academy, by way of Latin and French.
Synonyms
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scholarly
educational
scholastic
intellectual
instructional
pedagogical
learned
academician
faculty member
donnish
pedantic
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for academic
See all rhymes for academic →Frequently asked questions
What does “academic” mean?
The word “academic” means relating to schools, universities, or formal education and scholarship. In plain terms, relating to school/university learning, or (in a second sense) purely theoretical with no practical stakes.
How do you pronounce “academic”?
“Academic” is pronounced ak-uh-DEHM-ihk (/ˌæk.əˈdɛm.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “academic” in a sentence?
Here is “academic” used in a sentence: “She has an impressive academic record from her time at university.”
What part of speech is “academic”?
Depending on how it is used, “academic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “academic” come from?
The word “academic” comes from Latin. From Greek akademikos, referring to Plato's Academy, by way of Latin and French.
Is “academic” a common word?
“Academic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “academic” have?
“Academic” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to schools, universities, or formal education and scholarship.
What is the difference between academic and educational?
'Educational' describes anything that teaches or informs, from a documentary to a museum visit. 'Academic' is narrower, tied to formal scholarship in schools and universities: study, research, and theory. A children's cartoon can be educational without being academic, while a peer-reviewed paper is academic in the fullest sense.
What does 'academic' mean in the phrase 'purely academic'?
There it carries a second sense: theoretical and of no practical consequence. If a question is 'purely academic,' it is interesting in principle but makes no real difference to the outcome, perhaps because the decision is already made. The focus is on abstract interest rather than education.
Is 'academic' a positive or negative word?
It is usually neutral or positive, signaling learning, rigor, and scholarship. It turns mildly negative only in the sense of 'too theoretical,' meaning impractical or removed from real life, as in 'that debate is merely academic.' Tone depends entirely on context and the sentence around it.
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