Etymologically
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educational

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 21:39. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌedʒ.ʊˈkeɪ.ʃən.əl/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English education + -al.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

“Due to, or arising from, education”: 1652 in the OED,[4] the 1650s in Etymonline; this sense is now obsolete.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

“Of or pertaining to education” is from 1830 in Etymonline,[2] 1831 in the OED.[4] In the 19th century it was still criticized: a reviewer quoted by Etymonline called it a barbarism, together with conversationism, that Worcester's dictionary tolerated.[2] The adverb educationally is from 1845.[4] “Serving to educate, instructive” is from 1935.[2]

Timeline

  • 1652 – arising from education.[4]
  • 1831 – of education.[4]
  • 1845 – educationally.[4]
  • 1935 – instructive.[2]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Of or relating to education.
  2. Serving to educate; instructive.

Word family

  • educationally
  • educationalist
  • educational psychology

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press