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Definition of scholarly

scholarly

/ˈskɑː.lɚ.li/
schol · ar · ly
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scholarly Lexical Profile

scholarly Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Involving, relating to, or characteristic of serious academic study and thorough research.

Example

"She published her findings in a respected scholarly journal after three years of archival research."

2

Having or showing deep knowledge, learning, and a devotion to study.

Example

"The scholarly professor spent her evenings translating ancient Greek manuscripts in her study."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for scholarly
Antonyms
View all antonyms for scholarly

Word Nuance & Usage

Despite ending in the suffix '-ly', 'scholarly' functions almost exclusively as an adjective; in modern English, the adverbial sense is typically expressed with the phrase 'in a scholarly manner' rather than the awkward form 'scholarlily'.

• Rhymes for scholarly

• Nearby Words

schokari sand racer
scholar
scholarliness
scholarly
scholarship
scholastic
scholastically

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from 'scholar' plus the adjectival suffix '-ly'. The root 'scholar' traces back through Old English 'scolere' and Late Latin 'scholaris' to the Ancient Greek 'skhole', which originally meant 'leisure' and later 'learned discussion conducted during leisure time'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Scholarly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/scholarly
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