academic
Noun pluralacademics
Pluralacademics
- 1Of or relating to education and scholarship, especially at schools, colleges, and universities, or to societies and organizations of scholars.
The institute publishes an academic journal read by scholars worldwide.
Her academic career began at a small research university.
UsageMostly before a noun: academic year, academic staff, academic freedom.
Similarscholarly, educational
- 2A teacher or researcher at a college or university, or a person engaged in scholarly work.
As a respected academic, she advised the government on education policy.
Several academics signed the open letter to the minister.
UsageFor the world of universities, use academia: an academic works in academia.
Similarscholar, researcher
- 3The coursework and subjects of formal study, especially as distinguished from athletics and other school activities.
Her academics slipped a little while she trained for the championship.
The school wants every student to balance academics with sports and clubs.
UsageOften set against sports or social life: balance academics with sports, focus on your academics.
Similarstudies, schoolwork, coursework
- 4Theoretical or speculative, with little practical use or importance to real situations, often through being overly detailed and unengaging.
The report was so academic that few readers managed to finish it.
His theories stayed academic, never tested out in the field.
UsageUsually after a verb or in set phrases: the point is academic, an academic question, of academic interest.
Similartheoretical, abstract, speculative, hypothetical, impractical
Oppositepractical, applied, concrete
Note
The dismissive academic. Calling a question or distinction academic says it makes no difference to the outcome. F. A. Hayek's "of much more than academic interest" (1949) shows the common move of negating it to insist that something matters in practice.
- 5Relating to general scholarly subjects such as languages, history, mathematics, and science, rather than to technical or vocational training.
The college keeps its academic programs separate from its vocational workshops.
Many students prefer academic courses in literature to hands-on trades.
Oppositevocational, technical
Note
The narrower, educational use, defined by its opposite. Academic pairs naturally with vocational and technical, as in academic and vocational competence, and the contrast is the meaning.
Less common meanings
- 6Showing a love of learning or a natural aptitude for study.
Her brother was never very academic, but she loved every subject at school and read far beyond the syllabus.
From a young age she was deeply academic, devouring every book she found.
UsageSaid of people, often with very or in comparisons: not very academic, more academic than athletic.
Similarstudious, bookish, intellectual
Note
It is mild, usually approving, and should not be confused with the unworldly meaning, which suggests that a person's learning has cost them practical sense.
- 7So absorbed in scholarship as to be unworldly, lacking experience in practical matters.
A shy, academic man, he could explain medieval law in detail but had no idea how to rent an apartment.
For all his learning, he was too academic to notice that his landlord had been overcharging him for years.
Similarunworldly
Oppositeworldly
- 8Conforming to established rules and traditions; conventional and formal.
Critics dismissed the canvas as academic, faithful to convention but lacking spark.
Her training produced a polished, academic approach to portrait painting.
Similarconventional, traditional, orthodox, formal, formulaic
Oppositeunconventional, innovative, original
Note
An art critic's word. The academy behind it is the art academy, whose rules a painter is trained to follow. Academic work keeps to the set conventions of the tradition rather than experimenting against them. Its neighbors conventional and formalistic show its usual edge: the word tends to describe correctness more than invention.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- The artistic sense refers to conformity with the doctrines of art academies. nationalgallery.org.uk
- Academic art emphasizes established traditions over individual invention. en.wikipedia.org
- 9A formally elected member of an Academy, such as a national society of arts or sciences; an academician.
Note
For an elected member of an official academy of arts or sciences (such as the Royal Academy), academician is the clearer and more common word today, since academic alone usually suggests a university scholar.
- 10The formal robes, gown, and cap worn on ceremonial occasions at universities and colleges.
The faculty processed into the hall in their full academics.
The new professors, still in their academics, posed for photos on the chapel steps after convocation.
UsagePeople wear, put on or process in their academics; the singular names a person, not clothing.
- 11A student enrolled at a college or university.
Note
An archaic use, found in older writing for someone studying at a college rather than teaching there. A reader meeting it in an old text should not mistake the student for the professional scholar, the meaning the noun carries today. In modern prose, the plain word student does this job.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Academic has an archaic noun sense meaning a college student. en.wiktionary.org
- 12Following the architectural standards set out by Vitruvius.
- 13Someone who adheres to the philosophy and teachings of the Greek philosopher Plato.
- 14Belonging to the philosophical school founded by Plato.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
It comes from both Medieval Latin acadēmicus and French académique, going back to Ancient Greek akadēmikós, from Akadēmía, the name of the place where Plato taught.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- English academic comes from both Medieval Latin acadēmicus and French académique. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin acadēmicus derives from Greek akadēmikós. Latin academia instead derives from Greek Akadḗmeia, a variant of Akadēmía. en.wiktionary.org
- Greek akadēmikós derives from Akadēmía. en.wiktionary.org
- Akadēmía was the name of the place where Plato taught. en.wiktionary.org