Definition of PEDAGOGICAL (original) (raw)
: of, relating to, or befitting a teacher or education
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Pedagogical and its cognates present us with an excellent example of how different words can come from the same root, retain closely related meanings, and yet take on distinctive connotations. Pedagogical, pedagogy, and pedagogue all come from the Greek paidagōgos, originally the word for an enslaved person who brought children to school. But while pedagogical and pedagogy have meanings simply related to education, teaching, or teachers (with no implied judgment), pedagogue has taken on a negative tone, often referring to a dull or overly formal teacher. A similar transformation has taken place with many of the _pedant_- words in English. Pedant originally denoted simply "a tutor," but now tends to mean "one who makes a show of knowledge." Pedantic formerly meant "relating to teaching," but now is more commonly used to mean "unimaginative or dull."
Examples of pedagogical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The greatest point of pedagogical interest here is how, in addition to research, history, style emulation, and memory and observation exercises, this course aims to culminate in a field trip to Ireland. —
Tyler Thier, JSTOR Daily, 21 Oct. 2024 Effective Content Delivery Methods Sound pedagogical methods should drive SEL design. —Hashim Hayat, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 Programs are required to have one pedagogical leader for every seven children under the age of 3, and one for every 14 children older than that. —Jackie Mader, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2024 Her way with language, subject, and style taps into childhood and childlike play, echoing pedagogical strategies tied to literacy like phonics and onomatopoeia. —Sarah Lehrer-Graiwer, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pedagogical 
Word History
Etymology
pedagogical from pedagogic + -al entry 1; pedagogic borrowed from French & New Latin; French pédagogique, borrowed from New Latin paedagōgicus, borrowed from Greek paidagōgikós "suitable for a teacher or trainer," from paidagōgós "attendant on a child, tutor" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at pedagogue
First Known Use
1595, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of pedagogical was in 1595
Dictionary Entries Near pedagogical
Cite this Entry
“Pedagogical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedagogical. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
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Last Updated: 4 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences
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