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

Rather than teach a different course, Peterson elected to revise his syllabus, replacing the Plato readings with an article in The New York Times about the university’s censorship of the original material. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026

Philosophy professor Martin Peterson submitted the syllabus for his Contemporary Moral Issues class for the spring 2026 semester to department leadership for review during the school’s winter break. —Samuel O'Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 2026

In this collection of short stories, there is a story as syllabus, a board game, middle school gamblers, generous dead neighbors, and a professional gynecology patient. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026

On today's syllabus, Hadid and stylist Mimi Cuttrell mapped out the best way to style a pair of white jeans in the new year, from the ideal silhouette to the perfect boot combination. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 3 Jan. 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)