academy
gb/əkˈædəmi/ us/əkˈædəmi/
B1
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
School for special training
A school that teaches special skills or subjects.
Usage pattern:
[someone] attends [an academy]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'academy' with 'academic', which refers to education in general or scholarly work, not the institution itself.
Synonyms
institute (More general term for an organization offering education or research, not necessarily specialized in one skill area.)
Antonyms
general school (A school that gives a broad education rather than focusing on one skill or subject.)
Collocations
military academy
|police academy
|dance academy
|art academy
|sports academy
Themes
education
|careers
|work
Examples
- She graduated from the police academy last year.
- The academy offers intensive training for ballet dancers.
- He was accepted into a prestigious military academy.
- Our daughter attends an art academy in the city.
- The academy trains athletes for international competitions.
Learner examples
- I want to go to a music academy.
- He studies at a sports academy.
- She joined a dance academy.
- They train new officers at the police academy.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Scholarly organization
A group of experts in a subject who work together or advise others.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is elected to [an academy]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with a physical school building; here it refers to an organization of people.
Synonyms
association (A general term for an organized group of people with shared interests, not always scholarly.)
Antonyms
informal group (A casual gathering without official recognition or structure.)
Collocations
national academy
|academy of sciences
|academy membership
Themes
education
|science
Examples
- She was honored by being elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
- The French Academy oversees the official use of the language.
- Several Nobel laureates are members of the academy.
- The academy publishes research journals regularly.
Learner examples
- He is a member of the science academy.
- The language academy makes new rules.
- She joined the art academy for famous artists.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Film industry award body
The group that gives the Oscars for movies.
Common mistake:
Learners might think 'academy' here means a school; in this context it is an organization in the movie business.
Synonyms
Oscars organization (Informal description of the same body focusing on its awards.)
Collocations
Academy Awards
|the Academy
Themes
entertainment
|film
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The Academy announced the nominees for Best Picture.
- He thanked the Academy during his acceptance speech.
- The Academy has changed its voting rules this year.
Learner examples
- The Academy gives awards to movies.
- She got a prize from the Academy.
- The Academy chooses the best actors.
Grammar
Dictionary form
academy
IPA
GB/əkˈædəmi/
US/əkˈædəmi/
Syllables & stress
academy (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: academy
- Plural: academies
Word family
Forms
academies
noun
Core family
academic
adjective B1
academically
adverb
Related words
academia
noun
Negative and opposite forms
nonacademic
adjective
Advanced or less common
academician
noun
Expressions
Academy Award
1/əkˈædəmi əwˈɔɹd/
fixed phrase
Annual film industry prize
A big prize given each year to the best movies and actors.
Examples
- She won an Academy Award for Best Actress.
- Many films compete for the Academy Award each year.
the Academy
1/ðə əkˈædəmi/
fixed phrase
Short form for film award body
A short name for the group that gives the Oscars.
Examples
- The Academy will announce the winners tonight.
- He thanked the Academy in his speech.