Etymology From both the Medieval Latin acadēmicus and the French académique, from Latin academia, from Ancient Greek ἀκαδημικός (akadēmikós), from Ἀκαδημία (Akadēmía) or Ἀκαδήμεια (Akadḗmeia), the name of the place where Plato taught; compare academy. By surface analysis, academy + -ic.
Belonging to an academy or other higher institution of learning, or a scholarly society or organization.
But unhappily, by too short a view of things, you have been apt to mistake the completion of your academic courses for the completion of your theologic studies: and then, by a false modesty, have despaired of knowing more than you would suffer those august places of your education to teach you.1761, William Warburton, A Charge to the Clergy of the Diocese of Gloucester; republished as The Works of the Right Reverend William Warburton, D. D., Lord Bishop of Gloucester, volume 9, 1811, page 372:
It was left to the motor industry, half a century later, to destroy Oxford's academic calm.1959 December, John Alves, “Resorts for Railfans - 29: Oxford”, in Trains Illustrated, page 596:
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In particular: relating to literary, classical, or artistic studies like the humanities, rather than to technical or vocational studies like engineering or welding.
Programs of work should provide students the opportunities to demonstrate both academic and vocational competence attainment.1991, Wisconsin State Board of Vocational, Technical and Adult Education, Accountability Report, and ... State Plan for Vocational, Technical and Adult Education in Wisconsin, page 16:
Evidence for cannibalism abounds - even if circumstantial - both from the modern world and throughout history, but academic anthropology has found itself in a funk of denial.2000 September 7, Henry Gee, “Eating people - is it bad taste?”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 09 May 2014:
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Having little practical use or value, as by being overly detailed and unengaging, or by being theoretical and speculative with no practical importance.
I have always had an academic interest in hacking.
the distinction is academic
4 more examples
an academic question
The character of the process by which the views of the intellectuals influence the politics of tomorrow is therefore of much more than academic interest.1949, F. A. Hayek, “The Intellectuals and Socialism”, in University of Chicago Law Review, volume 16, number 3, Chicago: University of Chicago, →DOI, page 418:
"Anyway, we have the triffids controlled well enough so it's an academic point and scarcely worth raising."1951, John Wyndham, The Day of the Triffids, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, published 1954, page 49:
The exact sequence and timing of the subsequent explosions and inflight fires are not known and are, in fact, somewhat academic with respect to the probable cause of the accident.1965 February 25, Civil Aeronautics Board, “Analysis”, in Aircraft Accident Report: Pan American World Airways, Inc Boeing 707-121, N709PA, Near Elkton, Maryland, December 8, 1963, archived from the original on 01 Dec 2024, page 11:
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Having a love of or aptitude for learning.
I’m more academic than athletic — I get lower marks in phys. ed. than in anything else.
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Art, Arts Conforming to set rules and traditions; conventional; formalistic.
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Art, Arts Subscribing to the architectural standards of Vitruvius.
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So scholarly as to be unaware of the outside world; lacking in worldliness; inexperienced in practical matters.
Etymology From both the Medieval Latin acadēmicus and the French académique, from Latin academia, from Ancient Greek ἀκαδημικός (akadēmikós), from Ἀκαδημία (Akadēmía) or Ἀκαδήμεια (Akadḗmeia), the name of the place where Plato taught; compare academy. By surface analysis, academy + -ic.
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Capitalized, Usually A follower of Plato, a Platonist.
2
A senior member of an academy, college, or university; a person who attends an academy; a person engaged in scholarly pursuits; one who is academic in practice.
Academics[…]see integrated systems for collecting, processing and acting on data as offering a “second electrification” to the world’s metropolises.2013 September 7, “The multiplexed metropolis”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8852:
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A member of the Academy; an academician.
Carneades the academick, when he was to write against Zeno the stoick, purged himself with hellebor first […].1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 4, member 2, subsection ii:
Many spoke of an intense fear of failing one’s academics at university, which can both be highly motivating to secure academic success (sometimes at the cost of socialising), but can also immobilise one’s desire to try harder as it can be rather disappointing if one does not succeed. […] Many autistic students commonly reported viewing academics to be the most important aspect of university life and had a strong sense of persistence and self-determination to succeed. […] However, while some autistic students viewed socialising to be a source of threat that could jeopardise their academic success if indulged in, others highlighted the importance of social connections at university beyond that of academics.2021 July 25, Jiedi Lei, and Ailsa Russell, “Understanding the role of self-determination in shaping university experiences for autistic and typically developing students in the United Kingdom”, in Autism, volume 25, number 5, →DOI, pages 1262–1278: