academic in WordNet English dictionary

1. an educator who works at a college or university
   academician  academic  faculty member 
   

1. associated with academia or an academy
   "the academic curriculum"; "academic gowns"
   academic 
   
2. marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
   academic  donnish  pedantic 
   
3. hypothetical or theoretical and not expected to produce an immediate or practical result
   "an academic discussion"; "an academic question"
   academic