Definition

Noun: 1. A fixed period during which the educational activities of a school, college, or university are conducted. This is the primary scheduled division of the academic year, such as a semester, trimester, or quarter, during which classes are held and instruction is given.

Usage

The term "academic term" is used to refer to the official, scheduled periods of teaching and learning within an institution's calendar year. It is a formal term often found in administrative documents, academic calendars, and official communications. - The fall academic term begins in September and ends in December. - Registration for the next academic term opens next week. - Her research project will span two full academic terms.

Advanced Usage

• "During the academic term": This phrase specifies that an event or condition occurs within the timeframe when classes are officially in session.
  • Students must live on campus during the academic term.
• "Across academic terms": Used to describe something that extends over or compares multiple terms.
  • The data was collected across three academic terms.

Variants and Related Words

• Term (noun): A common, shorter synonym for "academic term."
  • The spring term is usually very busy.*
• Semester (noun): A specific type of academic term, typically dividing the year into two main periods (e.g., Fall and Spring semesters).
• Trimester (noun): An academic term dividing the year into three main periods.
• Quarter (noun): An academic term dividing the year into four main periods.
• Session (noun): Can sometimes be used interchangeably, especially for shorter or more intensive periods of study (e.g., summer session).

Synonyms

• School term
• Session
• Semester/Trimester/Quarter (as specific types)

Related Phrases

• Academic year: The total annual period containing the academic terms, typically from late summer/autumn to the following spring/summer.
• Break between terms: The vacation period separating one academic term from the next (e.g., winter break, spring break).

Noun

1. the time during which a school holds classes
   • they had to shorten the school term