syllabus

noun

syl·​la·​bus ˈsi-lə-bəs How to pronounce syllabus (audio)
plural syllabi ˈsi-lə-ˌbī How to pronounce syllabus (audio)
-ˌbē
or syllabuses
1
: a summary outline of a discourse, treatise, or course of study or of examination requirements
2

Examples of syllabus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In some ways, that question is secondary to the fact that Lot 49 grapples with the nature of symbology itself, and the way that symbols work in literature, which contributed to the novella as good syllabus fodder. Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025 The actress revealed that the school’s syllabus includes several non-fiction books, ranging from politics in Russia to those penned by early English authors. Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025 Ukraine’s model of unit-level drone academies, standardized syllabi for FPV, ISR, and loitering units, and a pipeline of instructor cadres can be adapted to Taiwan’s reserve structure and mobilization pathways. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025 New York subscribers will also get a limited-time discount for a subscription to the Criterion Channel, where a number of the syllabus films are available to stream. Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for syllabus

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, alteration of Latin sillybus label for a book, from Greek sillybos

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of syllabus was circa 1656

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Syllabus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syllabus. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

syllabus

noun
syl·​la·​bus ˈsil-ə-bəs How to pronounce syllabus (audio)
plural syllabi -ˌbī How to pronounce syllabus (audio)
-ˌbē
or syllabuses
: a brief outline (as of a course of study)

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