educational
ehd-zhuu-KAY-shuh-nuhl
Educational (adj) means relating to education or teaching. Example: “The museum offers educational programs for school groups.”
adj
1
Relating to education or teaching.
"The museum offers educational programs for school groups."
"A school is an educational establishment."
"Teachers discussed the educational needs of each pupil."
"She works for an educational charity that supports young readers."
2
Providing useful knowledge or insight, even outside a formal school setting.
"The documentary was surprisingly educational."
"Watching the nature programme was an educational experience for us all."
"Travel can be educational even when it is not planned."
How to use educational
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelated to teaching, or generally informative.
Common pairings
an educational trip
educational value
educational toys
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Word forms
- Plural
- educationals
- Comparative
- more educational
- Superlative
- most educational
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The museum offers _____ programs for school groups.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for educational
coronal
rational
diagonal
personal
seasonal
national
optional
regional
hormonal
hexagonal
fictional
emotional
See all rhymes for educational →
Frequently asked questions
What does “educational” mean?
The word “educational” means relating to education or teaching. In plain terms, related to teaching, or generally informative.
How do you pronounce “educational”?
“Educational” is pronounced ehd-zhuu-KAY-shuh-nuhl (/ˌɛd͡ʒəˈkeɪʃənəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “educational” in a sentence?
Here is “educational” used in a sentence: “The museum offers educational programs for school groups.”
What part of speech is “educational”?
“Educational” is an adjective.
Is “educational” a common word?
“Educational” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “educational” have?
“Educational” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to education or teaching.
What is the difference between educational and instructive?
Both describe something that teaches, but they differ in emphasis. 'Educational' relates broadly to education and the process of learning, and often to formal schooling. 'Instructive' focuses on giving useful information or a specific lesson. A museum trip is educational; a single clear demonstration is instructive. The overlap is large but not complete.
Is educational a positive word?
Generally, yes. Calling something educational suggests it has genuine learning value and benefits the person experiencing it, which is usually complimentary. Occasionally it is used lightly or ironically, as when a difficult experience is described as educational, but even then it implies something worthwhile was learned.
What is an example of educational?
Anything designed to teach or inform can be educational: a documentary, a school textbook, a museum exhibit, a children's toy that builds counting skills, or a training video. The word describes both formal settings, like classrooms and universities, and everyday resources that help someone learn or understand something new.
What is the difference between educational and academic?
'Educational' is broad and covers anything relating to teaching or learning, formal or informal. 'Academic' is narrower and refers specifically to scholarly study, schools, and universities, and can also imply theory over practice. A cartoon can be educational; scholarly research is academic. Academic sits within the wider field that educational describes.
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