academe

American  

[ak-uh-deem, ak-uh-deem] / ˈæk əˌdim, ˌæk əˈdim /

noun

1. the campus activity, life, and interests of a college or university; the academic world.

2. Sometimes Academe any place of instruction; a school.

3. a person living in, accustomed to, or preferring the environment of a university.

4. a scholarly or pedantic person, especially a teacher or student.

5. Academe, the public grove in Athens in which Plato taught.

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academe British  

/ ˈækəˌdiːm /

noun

1. any place of learning, such as a college or university

2. the academic world

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Etymology

Origin of academe

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin Acadēmus, Greek Akádēmos; see Academus

Explanation

Use the noun academe when you're talking about a college or university community. The world of academe can be a little intimidating when you're a freshman. Academe is the community and scholarly environment within an institution of higher education, and it's more often called "academia." Professors, graduate students, researchers, and undergraduates all contribute to the environment of academe, and if you plan on teaching at a university some day, you hope to enter academe. The earliest meaning, from the Greek word Akademeia, was simply "The Academy."

Example Sentences

Because “The Laughter” is not just any book from such a perspective — it’s a no-holds-barred comic achievement that lambastes the power structures keeping men like Oliver skulking the halls of academe.

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2023

Sinnett’s deeply civilized call to rejoice in life’s rich diversity of perplexities is discordant with the tenor of dogmatism in academe.

From Washington Post • Jul. 29, 2022

For generations, consensus achieved in the remotest groves of academe has trickled down to public consciousness through curricula, textbooks, trade publishing, museum exhibits, and other highly curated channels.

From Slate • Oct. 30, 2021

Rather than emphasize UMBC’s original goal of preparing students for academe, officials said their immediate goal was to improve diversity in the workforce of Silicon Valley, the engine that built Zuckerberg’s vast fortune.

From Science Magazine • Jul. 24, 2019

“Neither one of you appears to be having much fun on your holiday. You could have stayed in the halls of academe and looked evil.”

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison