academic
Noun pluralacademics
Pluralacademics
- 1Connected to learning and study at a school, college, or university.
Like the whole world of schools, books, and teachers.
The university has many academic departments under one roof.
He spent years in academic life before retiring to the coast.
UsageUsually before a noun: academic year, academic work.
Similarscholarly, educational
- 2A person who teaches or does research at a college or university.
The academic spent her days teaching students and writing papers.
He became an academic after finishing his doctorate.
UsageThe person is an academic; the world of universities is academia.
Similarscholar, researcher
- 3The subjects a student studies and the work done for classes, rather than sports.
Like the study side of school life, not the sports side.
He worked hard on his academics to get into a good college.
She is great at sports but needs help with her academics.
UsageOften used with sports: academics and sports, help with your academics.
Similarstudies, schoolwork, coursework
- 4Having little use or importance in real situations, often because it deals only with ideas or theories.
Like a map of a place no one will ever visit: interesting, but with no real use.
His plan sounded clever but was too academic to actually use.
The argument felt academic and had nothing to do with our real problem.
UsageOften in an academic question or the point is academic: it does not matter in real life.
Similartheoretical, abstract, speculative, hypothetical, impractical
Oppositepractical, applied, concrete
Note
- 5About school subjects like history, math, and science, not job-training skills like welding or fixing engines.
She chose academic subjects like history instead of car repair.
His school focused on academic classes rather than job training.
Oppositevocational, technical
Note
Less common meanings
- 6Enjoying learning or having a natural ability to study well.
She has always been an academic child who loves to read.
He is very academic and earns top grades without much effort.
UsageUsed about people: very academic, not very academic.
Similarstudious, bookish, intellectual
Note
- 7
- 8Following old, set rules and traditions instead of being new or free.
His paintings were academic, following the old rules very closely.
The judges liked her academic style and careful technique.
Similarconventional, traditional, orthodox, formal, formulaic
Oppositeunconventional, innovative, original
Note
- 9A chosen member of an official society of artists or scholars.
Note
- 10The special gown and cap worn at college ceremonies like graduation.
Like a special uniform you only wear on graduation day.
Students put on their academics before the graduation ceremony began.
He looked proud in his academics as he crossed the stage.
UsagePeople wear or put on their academics. One academic is a person, not clothes.
- 11A student at a college.
Note
- 12Following the old building rules of the Roman writer Vitruvius.
- 13A person who follows the ideas of Plato.
- 14Connected to Plato and the way of thinking he taught.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
It comes from the Latin and Greek words for 'academy', named after the place where the philosopher Plato taught.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Academic derives ultimately from Latin and Greek words for academy. en.wiktionary.org
- Academy takes its name from the place where the philosopher Plato taught. en.wiktionary.org