syllabus

noun

syl·​la·​bus ˈsi-lə-bəs 

plural syllabi ˈsi-lə-ˌbī 

-ˌbē

or syllabuses

1

: a summary outline of a discourse, treatise, or course of study or of examination requirements

2

: headnote sense 2

Examples of syllabus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His challenge was to make this lesson more than just another unit on the syllabus. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

The same restraint applies to professors, who will not be permitted to employ AI to write syllabuses or course materials. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Many faculty take time to talk about email with students or include a list of email do’s and don’ts in their course syllabus. — Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026

Her gift also includes 300 works from her personal art collection, amassed via a combination of trades, gifts, and purchases, as well as her teaching materials and syllabi from her three-decade tenure at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

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

Kids Definition

syllabus

noun

syl·​la·​bus ˈsil-ə-bəs 

plural syllabi -ˌbī 

-ˌbē

or syllabuses

: a brief outline (as of a course of study)