Academic is used to describe things that relate to the work done in schools, colleges, and universities, especially work which involves studying and reasoning rather than practical or technical skills.

Academic is used to describe things that relate to schools, colleges, and universities.

Academic is used to describe work, or a school, college, or university, that places emphasis on studying and reasoning rather than on practical or technical skills.

Someone who is academic is good at studying.

You can say that a discussion or situation is academic if you think it is not important because it has no real effect or cannot happen.