academic year

noun

: the annual period of sessions of an educational institution usually beginning in September and ending in June

Examples of academic year in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Also newly opened this academic year on the UChicago campus is Little Betty Smokehouse, also in Hutchinson Commons. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 By the 2025-26 academic year, room and board, tuition, and fees reached $25,850 at four-year, in-state public colleges, and $45,780 for out-of-state students, on average, according to the College Board. — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 About 4,800 students in that age group were referred during the 2024-25 academic year alone, the most recent school year for which data is available. — Kristian Hernández, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026 Starting with the 2027-28 academic year, every public and charter school in Illinois must offer these screenings for all students in grades three through 12, for which the state will provide a free screening tool. — Vanessa Andersen, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for academic year

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of academic year was in 1800

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Academic year.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/academic%20year. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!