pedagogy
Americannoun
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pedagogies
plural
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the function or work of a teacher; teaching.
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the art or science of teaching; education; instructional methods.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of pedagogy
First recorded in 1570–80; from Middle French pédagogie, from Greek paidagōgía “office of a child's tutor.” See pedagogue, -y 3
Explanation
Pedagogy is another word for education, the profession and science of teaching. Pedagogy and pedagogue come from the Greek paidos "boy, child" plus agogos "leader." Pedagogy refers to the teaching profession as well as the science of education, for example as a college subject. This might be one reason that the word, pedagogue, is often used for a teacher who is overly interested in rules and details, hence the science of teaching, rather than actually getting through to his or her students.
Vocabulary lists containing pedagogy
100 SAT words Beginning with "P"
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"The Palace Thief" by Ethan Canin
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Banned Book Club
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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:
The paper is called "Attempting to break the chain: Reimaging inclusive pedagogy and decolonising the curriculum within the academy".
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
To understand why so many institutional leaders and educated professionals are drawn into this cycle, one must look to a major intellectual influence within modern education: critical pedagogy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
Some children might indeed get a leg up on an exciting and rewarding career, but too often, employers will prioritize profits over pedagogy.
From Slate ● Nov. 20, 2024
“The substantial number of U.S.-trained professors in China has allowed Chinese grad students to stay home and still benefit from U.S. academic pedagogy and research networks,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2024
This chapter also familiarizes the reader with each method’s philosophy and principles, unique pedagogy, and practices and activities.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
School founders are small-business owners, and their backgrounds and pedagogies are as diverse as the students they serve.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
Grounded in his ancestral cultivation, he utilizes film, photography and poetry to amplify decolonial narratives and reclaim Indigenous pedagogies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2024
“We will need to proactively review policies, practices and pedagogies around the state.”
From Washington Post ● Feb. 25, 2022
That means the Youngkin administration will need to “proactively review policies, practices and pedagogies around the state,” she wrote.
From Washington Times ● Feb. 25, 2022
Fortunately, there are ways in which to use pedagogies that you already know in order to teach the material, without compromising its integrity or authenticity.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
