syllabus

[sil-uh-buhs]

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.

syllabus

¹

/ 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

Syllabus

²

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of syllabus¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of syllabus¹

C17: from Late Latin, erroneously from Latin sittybus parchment strip giving title and author, from Greek sittuba

Example Sentences

The allegations of bias are denied by those instructors who include lessons about the conflict in their syllabus.

From Los Angeles Times

Students hesitate before volunteering their opinions in class, while faculty appear more cautious, even including disclaimers in their syllabi.

From Salon

The allegations of bias are denied by those instructors who include the conflict in their syllabus.

From Los Angeles Times

Add “Broad City” and “Girls” and you have the syllabus for my imaginary course “Biting the Apple: Television Images of New York Youth in the Early 21st Century.”

From Los Angeles Times

This passion, more than any syllabus, is what engendered my own dedication.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• curriculum 
• synopsis 

When To Use

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.