academic freedom

American  

noun

1. freedom of a teacher to discuss or investigate any controversial social, economic, or political problems without interference or penalty from officials, organized groups, etc.

2. freedom of a student to explore any field or hold any belief without interference from the teacher.

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academic freedom Cultural  

1. The right of teachers and students to express their ideas in the classroom or in writing, free from political, religious, or institutional restrictions, even if these ideas are unpopular.

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Etymology

Origin of academic freedom

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

academic freedom

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

Exceptions like these are necessary, as schools obviously can’t be neutral about the value of education, what counts as scholarly expertise or the importance of academic freedom.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026

The trial captured national attention and helped convince the public of the importance of academic freedom.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler