Meaning & use

academic

adjective·Everyday

Relating to schools, colleges, or universities, and to studying, teaching, or research generally.

See it in a sentence

Her academic record included top grades in mathematics and several published research papers.

He left industry to become an academic, teaching economics at a small university.

A note on using this word

Academic can also describe something merely theoretical with no practical relevance, as in 'the debate is now academic since the decision was made'.

Words with a similar meaning

scholarlyeducational

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A person who teaches or carries out research at a college or university.

Several academics from the physics department signed the open letter.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “academic”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.