pedagogical

UK: ˌpedəˈɡɒdʒɪkəl | US: ˌpedəˈɡɑːdʒɪkəl

Definition
  1. adj. relating to the methods or theory of teaching

  2. adj. characteristic of or suited to a teacher

Structure
ped <child>agog <lead>ical <adjective suffix>
Etymology

pedagogical = ped<child> + agog<lead> + ical<adjective suffix>

  • ped <child>: From Greek pais (genitive paidos), meaning "child."
  • agog <lead>: From Greek agōgos, meaning "leading" or "guiding," derived from agein ("to lead").
  • ical <adjective suffix>: Latin-derived suffix forming adjectives, indicating "pertaining to."

Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Greek paidagōgikos, combining pais (child) and agōgos (leader). Originally, a paidagōgos was a slave who escorted children to school, later evolving to mean "teacher." The term entered English via Latin paedagogicus and French pédagogique, retaining its focus on educational guidance. The suffix -ical standardizes it as an adjective.

Examples
  1. The professor’s pedagogical approach emphasized interactive learning.

  2. She published a paper on pedagogical strategies for online education.

  3. His tone was overly pedagogical, making the lecture tedious.

  4. The workshop introduced innovative pedagogical tools for STEM subjects.

  5. Critics praised the textbook’s clear pedagogical structure.