Word
syntactic
Phoneticssyn·tac·tic, stress on the second syllable
/ˌsɪnˈtæktɪk/
Definition
adj. relating to the rules that decide how words are put together to make sentences. It describes the structure of language rather than its meaning.
adj. relating to the rules and principles that govern the structure of sentences and phrases. Often used in linguistic analysis to distinguish structural properties from semantic or phonetic ones.
Examples
“The grammar of this sentence is syntactic.”
“The professor explained that the word order in this language is strictly syntactic and cannot be changed.”
“While the semantic meaning of the two sentences is identical, their syntactic structures differ significantly, affecting how the information is processed by the listener.”
Examples
simple
“The grammar of this sentence is syntactic.”
contextual
“The professor explained that the word order in this language is strictly syntactic and cannot be changed.”
complex
“While the semantic meaning of the two sentences is identical, their syntactic structures differ significantly, affecting how the information is processed by the listener.”
Real-World Examples
“The third is grammatically valid but semantically unusual, testing whether the model has learned that adjectives like "colorless" and "green" are typically incompatible, or whether it relies more on syntactic patterns than semantic coherence.” “Three of the four parts involved asking the model to analyze specially crafted sentences using tree diagrams, which were first introduced in Chomsky’s landmark 1957 book, Syntactic Structures .” Etymology
From New Latin syntacticus, from Ancient Greek συντακτικός (suntaktikós).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/syntactic