Meanings
- not comparableThat teaches applied arts, sciences, technology, engineering and other academic subjects.
plural polytechnics
- UKdatedAn educational institute that teaches applied arts and sciences rather than academic subjects.
Synonyms: professional university, vocational university, university of applied sciences
- obsoleteAn exhibition of objects illustrating many arts.
- SingaporeA three-year post-secondary vocational training institute, equivalent of community college in the U.S. or TAFE in Australia.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn educational institute that teaches applied arts and sciences rather than academic subjects.
More synonyms by meaning
nouna technical school offering instruction in many industrial arts and applied sciences
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Frenchpolytechnique
- Englishpolytechnic
First attested in 1805. From French polytechnique, from the École polytechnique, engineering school founded 1794 in Paris; from Greek πολύτεχνος "skilled in many arts," from πολύς "many" (see poly-) + τέχνη "art" (see technic).
More words from French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan politècnic, politècnica
- politècnicTranslations
- politècnicaeducational institute
Czech polytechnika
- polytechnikaeducational institute
Esperanto politeknika, politeĥniko
- politeknikaTranslations
- politeĥnikoeducational institute
- politeknikoeducational institute
Finnish polyteknillinen, ammattikorkeakoulu
- polyteknillinenTranslations
- ammattikorkeakoulueducational institute
French polytechnique, polytechnique
- polytechniqueTranslations
- polytechniqueeducational institute
Indonesian politeknik
- politeknikTranslations
Irish ildánach, polaiteicnic
- ildánachTranslations
- polaiteicniceducational institute
Māori kuratini
- kuratinieducational institute
Polish politechnika
- politechnikaeducational institute
Spanish politécnico, politécnica
- politécnicoTranslations
- politécnicaeducational institute
Tagalog politekniko
- politeknikoeducational institute
Turkish politeknik
- politeknikeducational institute
Cite this entry
polytechnic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polytechnic
“polytechnic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polytechnic. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “polytechnic,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polytechnic.
Source: polytechnic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.