syllabus

American  

[sil-uh-buhs] / ˈsɪl ə bəs /

noun

PLURAL

syllabuses, syllabi

1. an outline or other brief statement of the main points of a discourse, the subjects of a course of lectures, the contents of a curriculum, etc.

2. Law.

   1. a short summary of the legal basis of a court's decision appearing at the beginning of a reported case.

   2. a book containing summaries of the leading cases in a legal field, used especially by students.

3. Also called Syllabus of Errors.  (often initial capital letter)  the list of 80 propositions condemned as erroneous by Pope Pius IX in 1864.

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syllabus ¹ British  

/ ˈsɪləbəs /

noun

1. an outline of a course of studies, text, etc

2. 1. the subjects studied for a particular course

   2. a document which lists these subjects and states how the course will be assessed

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Syllabus ² British  

/ ˈsɪləbəs /

noun

1. Also called: Syllabus of Errors.  a list of 80 doctrinal theses condemned as erroneous by Pius IX in 1864

2. a list of 65 Modernist propositions condemned as erroneous by Pius X in 1907

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Usage

Plural word for syllabus The plural form of syllabus can be either syllabuses or syllabi, pronounced [ sil-uh-bahy ], but syllabi is more widely used. The plurals of several other singular words ending in -us are also formed in this way, such as virus/viruses, sinus/sinuses, and walrus/walruses. Irregular plurals that are formed like syllabi, such as cactus/cacti and fungus/fungi, derive directly from their original pluralization in Latin. However, the standard English plural -es ending is often also acceptable for these terms, as in cactuses.

Etymology

Origin of syllabus

1650–60; < New Latin syllabus, syllabos, probably a misreading (in manuscripts of Cicero) of Greek síttybās, accusative plural of síttyba label for a papyrus roll

Example Sentences

But he said the RE syllabus would be reformed and he would set out how soon.

From BBC

The school replied that its religious education was "Bible-based" and followed the core syllabus for education.

From BBC

In the history class of my mind, his films comprise the syllabus.

From Los Angeles Times

Shortly after, Texas Scorecard, a conservative website followed by many state legislators, wrote about Harrison’s efforts, naming the professor and further dissecting her syllabus.

From Salon

At Tulane, it had been seminars, 50 kids in a session, textbooks and unwavering syllabi.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• curriculum
• synopsis