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academic

academic definition

aca·demic (ak′ə dem′ik)

adjective

of colleges, universities, etc.; scholastic; scholarly
having to do with general or liberal rather than technical or vocational education
of or belonging to an academy of scholars, artists, etc.
following fixed rules or conventions; pedantic or formalistic an academic style of painting
merely theoretical; having no direct practical application an academic question

Also academical ac′a·dem′i·cal (-i kəl)

Etymology: L academicus < academia: see academy

noun

a teacher or student at a college or university