scholastic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person who pays more attention to formal rules and book learning than they merit
    pedant; bookworm.
  2. noun a Scholastic philosopher or theologian
  3. adjective of or relating to schools
    • scholastic year
  4. adjective of or relating to the philosophical doctrine of scholasticism
    • scholastic philosophy

WordNet

Scho*las"tic adjective
Etymology
L. scholasticus, Gr. , fr. to have leisure, to give lectures, to keep a school, from leisure, a lecture, a school: cf. F. scholastique, scolastique. See School.
Definitions
  1. Pertaining to, or suiting, a scholar, a school, or schools; scholarlike; as, scholastic manners or pride; scholastic learning. Sir K. Digby.
  2. Of or pertaining to the schoolmen and divines of the Middle Ages (see Schoolman); as, scholastic divinity or theology; scholastic philosophy. Locke.
  3. Hence, characterized by excessive subtilty, or needlessly minute subdivisions; pedantic; formal.
Scho*las"tic noun
Definitions
  1. One who adheres to the method or subtilties of the schools. Milton.
  2. (R.C.Ch.) See the Note under Jesuit.

Webster 1913