# academic

Pronunciation: say "ak-uh-DEM-ik" /ˌæk.əˈdɛm.ɪk/

## Adjective

1. Of or relating to education and scholarship, especially at schools, colleges, and universities, or to societies and organizations of scholars.
   - Simple: Connected to learning and study at a school, college, or university.
   - _The institute publishes an academic journal read by scholars worldwide._
   - _Her academic career began at a small research university._
4. Theoretical or speculative, with little practical use or importance to real situations, often through being overly detailed and unengaging.
   - Simple: Having little use or importance in real situations, often because it deals only with ideas or theories.
   - _The report was so academic that few readers managed to finish it._
   - _His theories stayed academic, never tested out in the field._
5. Relating to general scholarly subjects such as languages, history, mathematics, and science, rather than to technical or vocational training.
   - Simple: About school subjects like history, math, and science, not job-training skills like welding or fixing engines.
   - _The college keeps its academic programs separate from its vocational workshops._
   - _Many students prefer academic courses in literature to hands-on trades._
6. Showing a love of learning or a natural aptitude for study.
   - Simple: Enjoying learning or having a natural ability to study well.
   - _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._
7. So absorbed in scholarship as to be unworldly, lacking experience in practical matters.
   - Simple: So focused on study that a person does not understand everyday life.
   - _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._
8. Conforming to established rules and traditions; conventional and formal.
   - Simple: Following old, set rules and traditions instead of being new or free.
   - _Critics dismissed the canvas as academic, faithful to convention but lacking spark._
   - _Her training produced a polished, academic approach to portrait painting._

## Noun

2. A teacher or researcher at a college or university, or a person engaged in scholarly work.
   - Simple: A person who teaches or does research at a college or university.
   - _As a respected academic, she advised the government on education policy._
   - _Several academics signed the open letter to the minister._
3. The coursework and subjects of formal study, especially as distinguished from athletics and other school activities.
   - Simple: The subjects a student studies and the work done for classes, rather than sports.
   - _Her academics slipped a little while she trained for the championship._
   - _The school wants every student to balance academics with sports and clubs._
9. A formally elected member of an Academy, such as a national society of arts or sciences; an academician.
   - Simple: A chosen member of an official society of artists or scholars.
10. The formal robes, gown, and cap worn on ceremonial occasions at universities and colleges.
   - Simple: The special gown and cap worn at college ceremonies like graduation.
   - _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._

## Noun

11. A student enrolled at a college or university. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: A student at a college.

## Other meanings

- (adjective) Following the architectural standards set out by Vitruvius.
- (noun) Someone who adheres to the philosophy and teachings of the Greek philosopher Plato.
- (adjective) Belonging to the philosophical school founded by Plato.

## 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.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/academic (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).