pedagogical
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- nonpedagogic adjective
- nonpedagogical adjective
- nonpedagogically adverb
- pedagogically adverb
- unpedagogic adjective
- unpedagogically adverb
Etymology
Origin of pedagogical
First recorded in 1595–1605, pedagogical is from the Greek word paidagōgikós of a child's tutor. See pedagogue, -ical
Explanation
Anything that relates to teaching is pedagogical. If your teacher has pedagogical dreams all night long, even in sleep, his mind is in the classroom. The adjective pedagogical, pronounced "peh-duh-GAH-gi-cal," comes from the Greek word paidagōgikos meaning “teacher.” If it's pedagogical, it concerns teaching, from lesson plans to approaches to teaching, even how the classroom looks. In rooms where the teacher's pedagogical philosophy is that students learn better when they work collaboratively, desks may be pushed together so four students can sit in their groups.
Vocabulary lists containing pedagogical
The Catcher in the Rye
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Big Science
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Many pedagogical and scientific sources suggest that the highest pitches reached in classical singing can only be produced with a so-called "whistle" voice register, in analogy to ultrasonic vocalizations of mice and rats.
From Science Daily • Jun. 18, 2024
“It’s really amazing to see my art and pedagogical practice come together outside of myself — in the form of a curved metal building plopped in the Mojave Desert,” Schwegler said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2024
“It is a pedagogical exercise in saving water.”
From Seattle Times • Apr. 12, 2024
The scramble has now begun within these academic programs to address not only what this means to pedagogical practices, but how these practices will affect the act of writing going forward.
From Salon • Sep. 23, 2023
As Gosling recalled, “Rosalind let rip in her best pedagogical style: ‘you’re wrong for the following reasons’...which she proceeded to enumerate as she demolished their proposal.”
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
![]()
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.