adj

academic

ak-uh-DEHM-ihk

adj

Relating to schools, universities, or formal education and scholarship.

"She has an impressive academic record from her time at university."

"The professor focuses on academic research rather than teaching."

Theoretical rather than practical; of no real practical consequence.

"Whether we could have won is academic now — the game is over."

noun

A person who works or studies at a university, especially as a teacher or researcher.

"Several leading academics contributed to the report."

How to Use Academic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRelating to school/university learning, or (in a second sense) purely theoretical with no practical stakes.

Common mistake

When people say a question is "purely academic," they mean it doesn't actually matter in practice — not that it relates to school.

Common pairings

academic year academic achievement purely academic

more academic comparative, academics plural, most academic superlative

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She has an impressive _____ record from her time at university.

From Greek akademikos, referring to Plato's Academy, by way of Latin and French.

anemic endemic epidemic pandemic systemic