# schema

/ˈskimə/ (US) · /skˈiːmɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/schema
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. computing/databases

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a formal plan that describes how data is organized in a database or file.

For teachers: a formal description of the structure of a database or data file, defining tables, columns, data types, and their relationships.

- The developer updated the database schema to include a new column for user phone numbers.
- Before migrating the legacy data, the engineering team had to ensure the XML schema was compatible with the new relational database architecture.

### 2. psychology/logic

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a mental framework that helps you organize and interpret information.

For teachers: a mental structure of preconceived ideas, representing some aspect of the world, used to organize and interpret new information.

- A child's schema for a 'dog' might change after they see a very small breed for the first time.
- Cognitive psychologists argue that an individual's existing schema significantly influences how they perceive and recall ambiguous social interactions.

### 3. logic/math

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

a logical formula that uses symbols to represent any possible statement.

For teachers: a formula in a formal system containing variables that can be replaced by any subformula of the system.

- The professor explained how the axiom schema allows for an infinite number of specific axioms.
- In formal logic, an axiom schema provides a template for generating valid statements within a specific mathematical proof.

## Examples

- Your brain uses a schema to understand what happens at a restaurant.
- The researcher developed a complex schema to categorize the different types of logical fallacies found in the debate transcripts.
- In cognitive psychology, a schema allows an individual to process vast amounts of sensory data by filtering it through pre-existing categories and expectations derived from past experiences.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.