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Synonyms

grammar school

American  

noun

  • grammar schools
    plural
  1. an elementary school.

  2. British. a secondary school corresponding to a U.S. high school.

  3. (formerly) a secondary school in which Latin and Greek are among the principal subjects taught.


grammar school British  

noun

  1. (esp formerly) a state-maintained secondary school providing an education with an academic bias for children who are selected by the eleven-plus examination, teachers' reports, or other means Compare secondary modern school comprehensive school

  2. another term for elementary school

  3. a private school, esp one controlled by a church

  4. a secondary school forming part of the public education system

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of grammar school

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400


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.

See Examples For:

But he had access to the myths of antiquity through the Latin texts he studied in grammar school, and in translations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

She had recently started grammar school after passing the 11-plus examination when her younger sister, Annette, was killed in the disaster.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

“There were books when my daughters were in grammar school and high school that stated we were extinct,” said Art Morales, an elder and historian in the tribe.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2025

Born in Stepney, east London, to working-class parents on 22 July 1938, Stamp attended grammar school before pursuing a career in advertising.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2025

He skipped two grades in grammar school and when he was eleven he was ready for Vocational.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

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