scholastic
UK: /skəˈlæstɪk/ | US: /skəˈlæstɪk/
adj. relating to schools, education, or academic learning
adj. overly pedantic or narrowly focused on formal rules (often derogatory)
n. (historical) a scholar or adherent of medieval scholasticism
The word scholastic traces back to the medieval Latin scholasticus, meaning "of a school." It originally described the rigorous, logic-based philosophy of medieval universities (Scholasticism). Over time, it broadened to general academic contexts but also acquired a negative connotation for excessive formalism. The morpheme schol- preserves the core idea of institutional learning, while -astic anchors it as an adjective.
Her scholastic achievements earned her a scholarship to Oxford.
The debate devolved into scholastic quibbling over minor definitions.
Medieval scholastic thinkers sought to reconcile faith with reason.
He dismissed the argument as mere scholastic hair-splitting.
The school’s scholastic standards are among the highest in the country.