Definition of "academic"

But unhappily, by too short a view of things, you have been apt to mistake the completion of your academic courses for the completion of your theologic studies: and then, by a false modesty, have despaired of knowing more than you would suffer those august places of your education to teach you.

1761, William Warburton, A Charge to the Clergy of the Diocese of Gloucester; republished as The Works of the Right Reverend William Warburton, D. D., Lord Bishop of Gloucester, volume 9, 1811, page 372

It was left to the motor industry, half a century later, to destroy Oxford's academic calm.

1959 December, John Alves, “Resorts for Railfans - 29: Oxford”, in Trains Illustrated, page 596

Programs of work should provide students the opportunities to demonstrate both academic and vocational competence attainment.

1991, Wisconsin State Board of Vocational, Technical and Adult Education, Accountability Report, and ... State Plan for Vocational, Technical and Adult Education in Wisconsin, page 16

In theory, a fully intact reverse osmosis membrane should be capable of removing lipopolysaccharide pyrogens […] In practice, this distinction is academic, because pyrogens do not replicate, and as long as the product water is […]

1985, Depyrogenation, page 33

In practice this distinction is academic, as any small nodule on the surface of a thyroidectomy specimen should be examined histologically. If carcinoma is suspected or proven, the whole surface of the specimen may be marked […]

1990, David George Lowe, I. J. M. Jeffrey, Surgical Pathology Techniques, Mosby Incorporated

The question of how many weapons are required for credible deterrence against India is purely academic.

2011 May 16, “Pakistan's AQ Khan: My Nuclear Manifesto”, in Newsweek

For the majority of owners, its four-wheel-drive endeavours will be of purely academic interest.

2017 November 10, “Land Rover Discovery review – SUV's the finest car in the Landy”, in Scottish Daily Record

As a general matter, we will not consider a protest where the issue presented has no practical consequences with regard to an existing federal government procurement, and thus is of purely academic interest.

2018 May 22, Decision, Matter of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, US Government Accountability Office

Academics […] see integrated systems for collecting, processing and acting on data as offering a “second electrification” to the world’s metropolises.

2013 September 7, “The multiplexed metropolis”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8852

Carneades the academick, when he was to write against Zeno the stoick, purged himself with hellebor first […].

1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, partition II, section 4, member 2, subsection ii