academic

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective 1 [usuallybeforenoun] connected with education, especially studying in schools and universities: The students return in October for the start of the new academic year. * high / low academic standards * an academic career * The enrolment criteria are geographical rather than academic. 2 [usuallybeforenoun] involving a lot of reading and studying rather than practical or technical skills: academic subjects / qualifications 3 good at subjects involving a lot of reading and studying: She wasn't very academic and hated school. 4 not connected to a real or practical situation and therefore not important: It is a purely academic question. * The whole thing's academic now-we can't win anyway. academically adverb: You have to do well academically to get into medical school. * He wasn't very well qualified academically but had a lot of experience. noun a person who teaches and/or does research at a university or college