noun

syntax

/ˈsɪntæks/ · say it: SIN·taks

the rules governing the structure of code

In Technology & Computing

In more detail

1. (noun) the way words are arranged and combined to form sentences in a language

2. (noun) the rules that govern this arrangement

Examples

1. English syntax requires the subject to come before the verb in most sentences.
2. The student struggled with French syntax, especially word order.

How to use syntax

Syntax refers specifically to the rules and patterns governing how words combine into phrases and sentences, distinct from grammar which is broader. It is used in both linguistics and computing contexts to describe the formal structure of language or code. The term is precise and technical but widely understood in educational and professional settings.

Common phrases

syntax error
syntax rules
correct syntax
syntax checker
Spanish syntax

Synonyms

grammar · word order · sentence structure · linguistic structure

Word family

syntactic · syntactical · syntactically

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse syntax with grammar, using them interchangeably when syntax is actually the structural component within the larger system of grammar.

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