Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for academia. Search instead for acidemia.
Synonyms

academia

American  
[ak-uh-dee-mee-uh, -deem-yuh, -dem-ee-uh, -dem-yuh] / ˌæk əˈdi mi ə, -ˈdim jə, -ˈdɛm i ə, -ˈdɛm jə /

noun

  1. the milieu or interests of a university, college, or academy; academe.


academia British  
/ ˌækəˈdiːmɪə /

noun

  1. the academic world

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of academia

First recorded in 1945–50; from New Latin, Latin; see academy

Explanation

The world of colleges and universities is academia. Academia is the academic world. If you like school, then you might enjoy academia, which is also known as academe. People in academia include students — college and university students, specifically. Then there are the professors, who teach the students. That's not all professors do; they also research various subjects. Producing research is one of the major goals of academia. If you like thinking and learning and studying, academia could be the place for you.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing academia

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In our Saturday Essay, Pamela Paul examines the growing divide over whether sociology’s mission is to pursue objective truth or advance social change, and what that means beyond academia.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 25, 2026

Aimee, 31, was on a steady path to a career in academia when she had her "road to Damascus" moment.

From BBC Jul. 12, 2026

IBM research director Jay Gambetta told Barron’s he welcomes federal involvement, seeing it as the state’s responsibility to consult with experts across academia and the private sector.

From Barron's Jun. 29, 2026

And bankruptcy law teaches an important lesson for how academia can respond to this moment.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 21, 2026

I couldn’t face going back to Providence after Italy, so I decided to give mainstream academia a try.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training