Scholastic means relating to schools, students, and formal education. When you see scholastic in front of a word, it usually has something to do with academic life. A student's scholastic achievements include good grades, awards for academic competitions, or being named to the honor roll. Scholastic aptitude can refer to someone's ability to succeed in school subjects.

The word has roots in ancient times, when scholars gathered to study and debate ideas. Today, we use scholastic to describe anything connected to serious learning and study. A scholastic journal publishes research and academic writing. Scholastic sports are organized through schools, like your school's basketball or track team, as opposed to club teams or recreational leagues.

You might encounter scholastic most often in the phrase scholastic record, which means the official history of a student's academic performance, including grades, test scores, and attendance. Colleges look at applicants' scholastic records to understand how well they've done in school. The word suggests formal, structured learning rather than casual education or learning from experience.