What does "academic freedom" mean?

The right to teach, learn, and (communicate) research freely without unreasonable interference from authority, or fear of reprisal.

How do you pronounce "academic freedom"?

Pronounced //ˌæk.əˈdɛm.ɪk ˈfɹiː.dm̩//.

Common synonyms include: academic autonomy, academic safeguard, classical liberal, creative freedom, freedom of thought, freedom to inquire.

/ˌæk.əˈdɛm.ɪk ˈfɹiː.dm̩/ noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Noun

1
The right to teach, learn, and (communicate) research freely without unreasonable interference from authority, or fear of reprisal. countable, uncountable
2
the freedom of teachers and students to express their ideas in school without religious or political or institutional restrictions wordnet

Calque of German akademische Freiheit. First attested in English in 1901.