Related to education, schools, or scholarly study; sometimes used to mean something is theoretical and not very practical.
From French *académique*, from Latin *academic(us)*, from Greek *Akadēmeia*, the name of Plato’s school near Athens. The word originally referred to the followers of Plato.
‘Academic’ once pointed to a specific garden where Plato taught, and now it covers everything from homework to research papers. When people call a question ‘purely academic,’ they’re hinting it lives in the classroom more than in daily life.
Academic institutions historically excluded women and many gender minorities from formal study, positions, and recognition. The term 'academic' often implicitly referenced male scholars, with women’s work marginalized or categorized as auxiliary or informal.
Use 'academic' neutrally across genders and be attentive to representation when citing examples or role models. Avoid assuming that 'academic' authority is male by default.
When discussing academic history or fields, include women and gender-minority scholars whose contributions were overlooked, such as women in early computing, mathematics, and the humanities.
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