academic freedom

noun

1. freedom of a teacher to discuss or investigate any controversial social, economic, or political problems without interference or penalty from officials, organized groups, etc.

2. freedom of a student to explore any field or hold any belief without interference from the teacher.

academic freedom

1. The right of teachers and students to express their ideas in the classroom or in writing, free from political, religious, or institutional restrictions, even if these ideas are unpopular.

Word History and Origins

Origin of academic freedom¹

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Example Sentences

They will invoke academic freedom and free speech to maintain a stranglehold that allows neither.

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Believing so — or poking fun at threats to academic freedom — causes concerned students to wonder whether university leaders are, in fact, prepared to meet this moment.

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The deal also reestablishes the research partnership between Cornell and the federal government while also maintaining the private school’s academic freedom and institutional autonomy, Kotlikoff said.

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She initiated legal action against the university for failing in its duty to protect her academic freedom and she submitted a "subject access request" demanding Sheffield Hallam hand over any relevant internal documents.

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It attacks the principles core to higher education, explicitly stating “academic freedom is not absolute.”

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