academic

adjective

• 1relating to education and scholarship:academic achievement he had no academic qualifications
• relating to an educational or scholarly institution or environment:students resplendent in academic dress
• (of an institution or a course of study) placing a greater emphasis on reading and study than on technical or practical work:a very academic school aiming to get pupils into Oxford or Cambridge
• (of a person) interested in or excelling at scholarly pursuits and activities:Ben is not an academic child but he tries hard
• (of an art form) conventional, especially in an idealized or excessively formal way:academic painting

• 2not of practical relevance; of only theoretical interest:the debate has been largely academic

noun

• a teacher or scholar in a university or other institute of higher education: the EU offers grants to academics for research on approved projects