syntax.

1. The principles or patterns by which words are organized into phrases, clauses and sentences.

2. The formal rules for arranging symbols or expressions in a notation or programming language.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• sentence syntax
• syntactic structure

On the page

The sentence’s syntax allowed two different attachments of the final phrase.

The analysis compared syntax across the two constructions without assuming that their meanings were identical.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic / formal. Forms: Usually uncountable; plural syntaxes for distinct formal syntactic systems or varieties. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: language analysis, sense distinction, word formation analysis, precise reference. Disciplines: academic writing, linguistics, dictionary and usage analysis. Commonness: moderately common.