noun
Uncommon
syllabus
SIH-luh-buhs
Syllabus (noun) means an outline of the topics to be covered in a course of study. Example: “The professor handed out the syllabus on the first day of class.”
noun
1
An outline of the topics to be covered in a course of study.
"‘I checked online for a beginner syllabus,’ she say. ‘A syllabus is a plan for how we would work, what I can teach you.’"
— Abi Daré, The Girl With The Louding Voice (2020)
"The professor handed out the syllabus on the first day of class."
"Check the syllabus for the reading assignments this week."
"In the first half of the year, teachers attended the training workshop for the new K-10 Chinese syllabus. In July, almost all the teachers attended the teacher training courses provided by OCAC."
— A Falun Dafa practitioner in Australia, Eliminating Attachments While Helping Coordinate a Minghui School (2019)
How to use syllabus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA document outlining what a course will cover, week by week.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
course syllabus
follow the syllabus
hand out a syllabus
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Word forms
- Plural
- syllabi, syllabuses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The professor handed out the _____ on the first day of class.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin syllabus, "list" — itself traced back to a copying error of a Greek word for a parchment label.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “syllabus” mean?
The word “syllabus” means an outline of the topics to be covered in a course of study. In plain terms, a document outlining what a course will cover, week by week.
How do you pronounce “syllabus”?
“Syllabus” is pronounced SIH-luh-buhs (/ˈsɪləbəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “syllabus” in a sentence?
Here is “syllabus” used in a sentence: “The professor handed out the syllabus on the first day of class.”
What part of speech is “syllabus”?
“Syllabus” is a noun.
Where does the word “syllabus” come from?
The word “syllabus” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin syllabus, "list" — itself traced back to a copying error of a Greek word for a parchment label.
Is “syllabus” a common word?
“Syllabus” is an uncommon word in modern English.
