What does scholastically mean?
Scholastically is an adverb meaning in connection with academic study, education, or the activities of scholars. It describes an approach, achievement, or concern that belongs to the world of formal learning rather than practical or everyday activity. A person may be described as scholastically gifted or pursue a subject scholastically, indicating intellectual ability, careful study, or an emphasis on academic accomplishment. The word has a formal, elevated tone and is especially associated with educational institutions, scholarship, and literary assessment. Because it derives from the older adjective scholastic, it carries associations with disciplined learning and the traditional intellectual culture of schools and universities. Although a sentence can contrast scholastically with practically, the adverb is usually used to emphasize academic qualities rather than to make a sharp opposition between the two.
adverbIn a manner related to schooling, academic study, or scholarly work. It can also mean according to the methods or standards of formal education.
- In a manner characteristic of scholarly or academic work.
- With regard to education or academic achievement.
"The program is designed to develop students' abilities both practically and scholastically."
"Her approach was scholastically rigorous but remained accessible to general readers."
"The scholarship was scholastically impressive, with its careful analysis and extensive citations."
The word scholastically points to the life of the mind: it describes learning as a world of ideas, argument, and disciplined study.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scholastically come from?
Scholastically is formed from the adjective scholastic, which comes through Latin scholasticus, meaning pertaining to a school or learned education. Scholasticus was related to Latin scholasticus and ultimately to a tradition of scholasticism, the medieval philosophical method of applying formal reasoning and authoritative texts to theological and other questions. The modern adjective and adverb continue to refer broadly to academic or scholarly matters.
Related word forms
How scholastically is actually used
Formally worded. It is more common in educational, academic, and biographical contexts than in everyday conversation.
Easily confused with scholastically
Scholastic is an adjective, while scholastically is an adverb describing how something is done in relation to academic study.