# syllabus

/ˈsɪɫəbəs/ (US) · /sˈɪlæbəs/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/syllabus
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a list of the topics and books you will study in a specific school subject or course.

For teachers: an outline or summary of the topics to be covered in an academic course, often including assessment dates and required reading.

## Examples

- The teacher handed out the syllabus on the first day of class.
- According to the syllabus, we have a midterm exam in the third week of October.
- The department revised the undergraduate syllabus to include more contemporary literature and diverse perspectives, ensuring the curriculum remained relevant to modern students.

## Pitfalls

- Not "the syllabus of the school" but "the curriculum of the school" — A syllabus refers to a single course or subject; use 'curriculum' for the entire set of subjects taught at a school.

## Usage notes

- The plural form is typically 'syllabuses', though the Latinate 'syllabi' is also common in academic contexts.

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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.