academy

[uh-kad-uh-mee]

noun

plural

academies 

1. a secondary or high school, especially a private one.

   My daughter goes to a very exclusive academy in Chicago.

2. a school or college for special instruction or training in a subject.

   a military academy.

3. an association or institution for the advancement of art, literature, or science.

   the National Academy of Arts and Letters.

4. a group of authorities and leaders in a field of scholarship, art, etc., who are often permitted to dictate standards, prescribe methods, and criticize new ideas.

5. the Academy,

   1. the Platonic school of philosophy or its adherents.

   2. academe.

   3. French Academy.

   4. Royal Academy.

   5. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Academy

¹

/ əˈkædəmɪ /

noun

1. 1. the grove or garden near Athens where Plato taught in the late 4th century _bc

   2. the school of philosophy founded by Plato

   3. the members of this school and their successors

2. short for the French Academy Royal Academy

academy

²

/ əˈkædəmɪ /

noun

1. an institution or society for the advancement of literature, art, or science

2. a school for training in a particular skill or profession

   a military academy

3. a secondary school: now used only as part of a name, and often denoting a private school

Word History and Origins

Origin of Academy¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English achademye, achadomye, from Latin Acadēmīa, the name of the public gymnasium near Athens, sacred to the hero Academus, where Plato established his school of philosophy; from Greek Akadēmía, variant of Akadḗmeia, noun use of feminine adjective Akadḗmeios, derivative of Akádēm(os) + -eia adjective suffix; Academus; -y ³ ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Academy¹

C16: via Latin from Greek akadēmeia name of the grove where Plato taught, named after the legendary hero Akadēmos

Example Sentences

That’s true in many places, but not at our service academies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a tribute on social media, Forest said they were "deeply saddened" by the death of Joshua, who previously an academy goalkeeper.

Read more on BBC

Bart Reeves said the district’s newcomer academy at a local high school hasn’t been enrolling any new students.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Straight out of college, graduates from the country’s maritime academies can earn more than $200,000 as a commercial sailor, with free food and private accommodations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Boston Symphony Orchestra had acquired the property a few years earlier, turning the main house into dormitory housing for student musicians at Tanglewood, its prestigious summer music academy, with an affiliated festival.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• boarding school 
• institute 
• prep school 
• secondary school 
• seminary