maths
- 01 A2 Elementary
the study of numbers, shapes, and calculations.
the science of numbers and their operations, interrelations, combinations, and abstractions. Uncountable; treated as a singular noun despite the final 's'.
Simple“I was never very good at maths when I was in primary school.”
In context“The curriculum places a heavy emphasis on advanced maths, requiring students to master calculus before their final year of secondary education.”
UsageAlways used with a singular verb (e.g., 'maths is...').
Teacher's tipThis is the standard form in British, Australian, and New Zealand English. In American and Canadian English, the form 'math' is used instead.
PitfallMaths are my favorite subject. Maths is my favorite subject.Even though 'maths' ends in 's', it is a singular noun and takes a singular verb.
Synonyms
maths vs math — Maths is the standard term in British English, while math is the standard term in American English.
Contraction of mathematics.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.