Synonyms

adult education

American

noun

a program of noncredit courses for adults regardless of previous education, offered typically by a university extension or institute.

Etymology

Origin of adult education

First recorded in 1850–55

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.

The Education Department tested this approach in June, announcing the transfer of adult education programs to the Labor Department.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2025

About 800 schools are covered by the ban; adult education and early education are exempt.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2025

The school it happened at provided municipal adult education, which Sweden's national agency for education explains is for people aged over 20 who did not finish primary or secondary school.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2025

These programs include housing, food assistance, financial assistance, adult education, energy assistance, financial capabilities, family development and transportation.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 26, 2024

Within days, she’d called several local community centers and found one that offered adult education classes, and signed up to take math and reading placement tests.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023