academic year

noun

: the annual period of sessions of an educational institution usually beginning in September and ending in June

Examples of academic year in a Sentence

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.
In August 2025, two shootings took place as students began the academic year. — Ruby Grisin, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Aug. 2026 Detroit Mercy estimates students will spend $1,468 on books and supplies during the 2026-27 academic year. — Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2026 As students like Valeria and Aislinn settle into their new dorms, the campus has planned a series of events this week to kick off the new academic year. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026 According to Liedgens, Keystone worked with about 900 foreign athletes for the 2026-27 academic year, down from a peak of roughly 1,100. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for academic year

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of academic year was in 1800

Rhymes for academic year

See All Rhymes for academic year

Browse Nearby Words

academicize
academic year
academist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Academic year.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/academic%20year. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All