core subjects

British

plural noun

education three foundation subjects (English, mathematics, and science) that are compulsory throughout each key stage in the National Curriculum

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The cuts announced Wednesday will transform how the paper covers core subjects, including sports and foreign news.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

Those results could then inform the citizens’ assembly process — identifying core subjects to discuss, as well as the kinds of information needed to answer the most important questions.

From Salon • Dec. 22, 2024

The crisis in recruiting and keeping teachers in state schools is real, with too few training to teach core subjects such as maths and physics.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2024

It would allow kids to create a presentation — say an exhibit, film or report — demonstrating mastery of two core subjects, but not necessarily math or English.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 2, 2023

The curriculum was quite specialized: You had to choose three core subjects and focus on them.

From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023