syntax

noun

syn·​tax ˈsin-ˌtaks How to pronounce syntax (audio)
1
a
: the way in which linguistic elements (such as words) are put together to form constituents (such as phrases or clauses)
b
: the part of grammar dealing with this
2
: a connected or orderly system : harmonious arrangement of parts or elements
the syntax of classical architecture
3
: syntactics especially as dealing with the formal properties of languages or calculi

Did you know?

Syntax is basically about what word comes before and after another word; in other words, it's part of the larger subject of grammar. Syntax is often an issue in poetry, and it's usually discussed in connection with diction—that is, the poet's choice of words. So, for example, your English professor might point out the syntactic difference between "Whose woods these are I think I know" and "I think I know whose woods these are;" whereas if the discussion was about diction instead, the question might be about the choice of "woods" rather than "land", or "think" rather than "bet".

Examples of syntax in a Sentence

Everyone has good days and bad days. Her syntax is sometimes a world unto itself. But George H.W. Bush occasionally sounded as though English were more foe than friend, and he was an astute president who managed complexity with skill and balance. — Jon Meacham, Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2008
Coming from a great distance and wholly unrelated to the Teutonic, Latin and Slav languages that fence it in, Hungarian has remained miraculously intact. Everything about the language is different, not only the words themselves, but the way they are formed, the syntax and grammar and above all the cast of mind that brought them into being. — Patrick Leigh Fermor, Between the Woods and the Water, 1986
“I saw that she a cookie ate” is an example of incorrect syntax.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This allows engineers to focus on complex problem-solving and architecture rather than mundane syntax or debugging. — Mohit Gupta, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 The language has a unique vocabulary, grammar and syntax. — Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025 As admirably rendered by the translator Ross Benjamin, Kehlmann’s style is sober and matter of fact, the sentences straightforward, undecorated by colorful words or difficult syntax. — David Denby, New Yorker, 23 May 2025 This interview has been edited for length, syntax, and readability. — Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for syntax

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French sintaxe, from Late Latin syntaxis, from Greek, from syntassein to arrange together, from syn- + tassein to arrange

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of syntax was in 1548

Rhymes for syntax

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Browse Nearby Words

syntan
syntax
syntaxic
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Cite this Entry

“Syntax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syntax. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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Kids Definition

syntax

noun
syn·​tax ˈsin-ˌtaks How to pronounce syntax (audio)
: the way in which words are put together to form phrases, clauses, or sentences

More from Merriam-Webster on syntax

Nglish: Translation of syntax for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about syntax

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