academic
academic (ăkə-dĕmʹĭk) adjective
Abbr. acad.
1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a school, especially one of higher learning.
2. a. Relating to studies that are liberal or classical rather than technical or vocational. b. Relating to scholarly performance: a student's academic average.
3. Relating or belonging to a scholarly organization.
4. Scholarly to the point of being unaware of the outside world. See synonyms at pedantic.
5. Based on formal education.
6. Formalistic or conventional.
7. Theoretical or speculative without a practical purpose or intention. See synonyms at theoretical.
8. Having no practical purpose or use.
noun
1. One who is a member of an institution of higher learning.
2. A person who has an academic viewpoint or a scholarly background.
academʹically adverb