What does scholastic mean?
Scholastic is an adjective relating to schools, education, or academic study. Its most distinctive use is in phrases such as “scholastic success,” “scholastic achievement,” and “scholastic record,” where it refers specifically to performance judged through grades, examinations, or other academic assessments. In broader use, the word can describe an educational institution, an activity connected with learning, or an ability linked to academic work. “Scholastic” often has a formal tone and may suggest careful study, examination performance, or the institutional world of schooling. It should not be understood as a general synonym for every feature of education: “scholarly,” for example, more often describes an intellectual interest or the character of academic work, while “academic” is broader and can refer to higher education as well as educational subjects. The word is useful when discussing achievement, assessment, or the measurable results of study with precision.
adjectiveRelating to education, school, or academic study. In particular, “scholastic success” refers to achievement measured by grades, examination results, or similar academic performance.
- Relating to school, education, or academic study.
- Relating to achievement measured through grades, examinations, or other scholastic assessments.
"The scholarship recognized her outstanding scholastic record."
"The school celebrated its students’ exceptional scholastic achievements."
"His sound grasp of Latin gave him an advantage in the scholastic contest."
In “scholastic success,” the word points not to fame or wealth, but to the distinctly academic currency of grades and exam results.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scholastic come from?
“Scholastic” comes through Latin scholasticus, meaning “of a school” or “learned,” from schola, “school.” Latin schola was borrowed from Greek skolē, originally associated with leisure and the activity of study. English cognates include “school,” “scholar,” and “scholarship,” while “scholasticism” developed as an abstract noun referring to scholastic doctrine or method.
Related word forms
How scholastic is actually used
“Scholastic” is formal and often educational in tone. It can describe schools, activities, abilities, or attainment broadly, but expressions such as “scholastic success” and “scholastic record” usually refer specifically to grades, examination results, or academic performance. It is more common in British and US English than in informal speech.
Easily confused with scholastic
“Scholastic” commonly refers to educational performance or attainment, whereas “scholarly” more often describes work or conduct characterized by learning, depth, or academic interest.