syntax

American  

[sin-taks] / ˈsɪn tæks /

noun

syntaxes plural

1. Linguistics. Rarely

   1. the study of the rules and patterns by which sentences and phrases are formed in a language.

   2. the rules or patterns so studied.

      Some people find English syntax hard to master.

   3. a presentation of these rules or patterns.

      His syntax of German is famous in the field.

   4. an instance of these rules or patterns.

      The syntax of that sentence is odd.

2. Computers. the grammatical rules and structural patterns governing the ordered use of appropriate words and symbols for issuing commands, writing code, etc., in a particular software application or programming language.

3. Logic.

   1. the branch of modern logic that studies the various kinds of signs that occur in a system and the possible arrangements of those signs, without reference to their meaning.

   2. the outcome of such a study when directed upon a specified language.

4. a system or orderly arrangement.

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syntax British  

/ ˈsɪntæks /

noun

1. the branch of linguistics that deals with the grammatical arrangement of words and morphemes in the sentences of a language or of languages in general

2. the totality of facts about the grammatical arrangement of words in a language

3. a systematic statement of the rules governing the grammatical arrangement of words and morphemes in a language

4. logic a systematic statement of the rules governing the properly formed formulas of a logical system

5. any orderly arrangement or system

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syntax Cultural  

1. The sequence in which words are put together to form sentences. In English, the usual sequence is subject, verb, and object.

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Discover More

Syntactic languages, such as English, use word order to indicate word relationships. Inflected languages (see inflection), such as Greek and Latin, use word endings and other inflections to indicate relationships.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• syntaxes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of syntax

First recorded in 1565–75; short for earlier syntaxis

Explanation

One of the hardest things about learning a new language is figuring out the syntax, or the basic rules for the way that words and phrases should be arranged in a sentence in order for it to make sense. Syntax isn't necessarily something you think about when you're speaking, but the order of words in a sentence can make a huge difference to its meaning. If you aren't convinced, try telling a waiter that you'd like "a slice of dessert for cake." And then, as the waiter stands there looking confused, try explaining that you don't think "important is very syntax."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

syntax syntaxes

Greenspan delighted in his ability to keep markets and politicians on their toes by wrapping his views in complex, garbled syntax.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

"If someone looks closely, they can spot Russian syntax in these videos."

From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026

I would also hate it if a photo of me “disappeared” my hair or captured me from “underneath angles,” famously the worst angles, and goddammit, Trump has once again gifted us some incredible syntax here.

From Slate ● Oct. 14, 2025

"While it is Krasznahorkai's weighty, rolling syntax that has perhaps become his signature as an author, his style also allows for a lightness of touch and a great lyrical beauty," Academy member Steve Sem-Sandberg said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2025

We have DNA for grammar, neurons for syntax.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Early on, we are exposed to simple spoken words and syntaxes that are often not represented in writing.

From New York Times ● May 30, 2023

Sun also devised an “application programming interface” consisting of command names and syntaxes that programmers would use to communicate with the tools.

From Slate ● Oct. 5, 2020

Such a wide variety of shapes and syntaxes should feel disruptive.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2016

They have been inherited by C++ and Java, which have C-like syntaxes.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.

"Pray, Mr. Thingumbob, have you brought any grammars, and primers, and dictionaries, and syntaxes with you?"

From Thaddeus of Warsaw by Porter, Jane