ac•a•dem•ic (ak e-DEM ik) adj. 1. abstract, speculative, or conjectural with very little practical significance. 2. pertaining to scholars and institutions of higher learning rather than to lay people or children. 3. of interest as an intellectual curiosity, but not particularly useful in real-world applications. 4. provoking curiosity and analysis rather than passion or devotion. 5. pedantic, casuistical; good for making a display of erudition but otherwise trivial. 6. belonging to