academy

noun

acad·​e·​my ə-ˈka-də-mē 

plural academies

1

a

: a school usually above the elementary level

especially : a private high school

b

: a high school or college in which special subjects or skills are taught

c

: higher education

—used with the

the functions of the academy in modern society

2

capitalized

a

: the school for advanced education founded by Plato

b

: the philosophical doctrines associated with Plato's Academy

3

: a society of learned persons organized to advance art, science, or literature

4

: a body of established opinion widely accepted as authoritative in a particular field

Did you know?

Our word academy comes from the Greek word Akademeia, the name of the park or grove outside of ancient Athens where the philosopher Plato taught his students. Just as schools and parks today are often named after famous persons, the Akademeia had been named in honor of a Greek hero, Akademos.

Synonyms

• school

Examples of academy in a Sentence

an academy of the fine arts

Recent Examples on the Web

Krejci came through the academy at Czech side Zbrojovka Brno and made his senior debut in October 2016, aged 16. —Steve Madeley, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025

This new class, coupled with the nearly 1,000 cadets who graduated from the academy last month and an upcoming class expected to be sworn in by the end of the year, makes this the largest number of recruits sworn into the NYPD in one year since 2006, Tisch said. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025

Because players from academies are developed and cost nothing from the start, any sale will be recorded on the accounts as 100% profit. —Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025

Many of those memories came alive again recently when nine members of the Class of 1965 attended their 60th class reunion at the academy. —Tom Strong, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

in sense 2, borrowed from Latin Acadēmīa, borrowed from Greek Akadḗmeia, Akadēmía, from the name of the gymnasium near Athens where Plato taught, from Akádēmos, Attic mythological hero + -eia or -ia -y entry 2; in senses 1, 3, and 4 borrowed from French, Italian, & New Latin; French académie, borrowed from Italian & New Latin; Italian accademia, borrowed from New Latin academia, going back to Latin Acadēmīa

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

academy

noun

acad·​e·​my ə-ˈkad-ə-mē 

plural academies

1

a

: school entry 1 sense 1a

especially : a private high school

b

: an institution for training in special subjects or skills

military academy

2

: an organization of people specializing in knowledge in a particular subject

Etymology

Greek Akadēmeia, the grove outside Athens where Plato had his school

Word Origin

Our word academy comes from the Greek word Akadēmeia, the name of the park or grove outside of ancient Athens where the philosopher Plato taught his students. Just as schools and parks today are often named after famous persons, the Akadēmeia had been named in honor of a Greek hero, Akadēmos.