English Reference
adjective · adverb

scholarly

adj. · adv.
US /ˈskɑɫɝɫi/ UK /skˈɒləli/ schol·ar·ly

  1. 01 C1 Advanced AcademicFormal

    adj.describing serious academic work that shows deep knowledge and careful research.

    adj.relating to or characteristic of serious academic study; demonstrating rigorous research and attention to detail.

    Simple

    The professor published a scholarly article about the history of the city.

    In context

    The journal is renowned for its scholarly rigour, requiring all submissions to undergo a double-blind peer-review process before publication.

    Usage

    Commonly modifies nouns like 'article', 'journal', 'work', or 'pursuit'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    adj.describing a person who enjoys studying and spends a lot of time learning.

    adj.characteristic of a scholar; exhibiting a devoted interest in learning and academic research.

    Simple

    She was a scholarly child who preferred reading in the library to playing sports.

    In context

    His scholarly appearance, complete with thick-rimmed glasses and a permanent stack of manuscripts, matched his reputation as a leading medievalist.

    studiousbookishintellectual
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency American EnglishFormal

    adv.doing something in a way that shows great knowledge or academic skill.

    adv.in a manner characteristic of a scholar or academic research.

    Simple

    He spoke scholarly about the ancient ruins he had visited.

    In context

    The author argues scholarly for a re-evaluation of the treaty, citing several previously untranslated primary sources.

    Usage

    In modern usage, the adverbial form is rare; 'in a scholarly manner' is often preferred.

    academicallyeruditely

Usage scholarly record · scholarly disagreement

He said: "While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement.

BBC News· 15 Aug 2026

From scholar + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated