academia

noun

ac·​a·​de·​mia ˌa-kə-ˈdē-mē-ə How to pronounce academia (audio)
: the life, community, or world of teachers, schools, and education : academe
scientists in industry and academia
a career in academia

Examples of academia in a Sentence

She found the business world very different from academia.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This global attention has helped recipients build new research networks, receive observational data from around the world, and connect with audiences beyond academia. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026 As the lazy days of summer fade and little ones return to school, autumn invites an air of academia. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Set in the high-stakes world of academia, The Love Hypothesis explores the delicate dance between science and emotion, reason and risk—and what happens when love defies logic. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026 In 1980, before even finishing his dissertation, he was invited to teach in the Native-studies department at the University of Lethbridge in southern Alberta, jump-starting a long career in academia. — Tommy Orange, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for academia

Word History

Etymology

latinization of academy (with -ia suggesting a geographic entity), after its Latin etymon, Acadēmia

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of academia was in 1903

Phrases Containing academia

Rhymes for academia

See All Rhymes for academia

Browse Nearby Words

academese
academia
academic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Academia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/academia. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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