academic freedom

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.

academic freedom

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of academic freedom¹

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Example Sentences

If the mainland students aren’t enjoying academic freedom to the same extent as others, that means universities are failing them.

From ProPublica

“We are all Gang Chen” has become a rallying cry for the cause of science and academic freedom, for the importance of global scientific collaborations.

From MIT Technology Review

This fight exemplifies how 2021 is a dangerous moment for scholars, educators and students alike, as states like Texas work to roll back academic freedoms.

From Washington Post

When I heard that the chancellor and the provost wanted to move to this, it was better than having a battle royale about the theory of academic freedom.

From Essence.com

Each of these groups measure democracy using different measures — electoral integrity, rule of law, media and academic freedom, civil liberties, to name a few.

From FiveThirtyEight

Academic freedom has been a hot debate within education circles.

From The Daily Beast

As such, the limitations the ASA boycott resolution places on academic freedom are, themselves, quite limited.

From The Daily Beast

It beguiles the notion of free thought, and the idea that academic freedom stands above political difference.

From The Daily Beast

She was not a Zionist, but an academic who believed in academic freedom.

From The Daily Beast

Turning the BDS movement into an issue of academic freedom is deeply misguided and counter-productive for Israel.

From The Daily Beast

Academic freedom is not without its dangers; but there are dangers which it is safer to face than to avoid.

From Project Gutenberg

In scholarship and in growth of academic freedom Germany has given the quickening impulse.

From Project Gutenberg

In English Universities, on the contrary, there is too little of academic freedom.

From Project Gutenberg