academic freedom
Americannoun
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freedom of a teacher to discuss or investigate any controversial social, economic, or political problems without interference or penalty from officials, organized groups, etc.
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freedom of a student to explore any field or hold any belief without interference from the teacher.
Etymology
Origin of academic freedom
An Americanism dating back to 1900–05
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.
Gardiner Hill, a former vice president and climate executive at BP who worked with the Princeton program, told ProPublica and Drilled that BP took academic freedom seriously.
From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026
UC President James B. Milliken has said the university is open to talks with the Trump administration but will “never compromise” on its independence, governance, values and academic freedom.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026
Hassett’s remarks raised concerns about Federal Reserve independence and academic freedom.
From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026
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.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025
Even the most ardent anticommunists among them regarded the oath as an uncomfortable reminder of the impositions on academic freedom they had suffered in their homelands.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
