What does "grammar" mean?
A system of rules and principles for the structure of a language, or of languages in general.
Grammar
/ˈɡɹæm.ə(ɹ)/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A system of rules and principles for the structure of a language, or of languages in general.
- Grammar: grammar is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: abecedarium, abecedary, alphabet, alphabet book.
- Useful contrasts: disorder, ignorance, informality.
- Usage evidence: This sees English as a system obeying miles of grammar and sentence structure which have to be learned in detail and applied rigorously.
How to use "grammar"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "grammar" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "grammar" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "grammar" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "grammar" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "grammar" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abecedarium" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "grammar", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A system of rules and principles for the structure of a language, or of languages in general. countable, uncountable
- 2 the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics) wordnet
- 3 A system of rules and principles for the structure of a language, or of languages in general.; The study of such a system. uncountable
- 4 Actual or presumed prescriptive notions about the correct use of a language. uncountable
- 5 A book describing the grammar (noun sense 1 or noun sense 2) of a language. countable
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 A formal system specifying the syntax of a language. countable
"Because real lexicons are big and complex, from a software engineering perspective it is best to write simple grammars that have a simple, well-defined way, of pulling out the information they need from vast lexicons. That is, grammars should be thought of as separate entities which can access the information contained in lexicons. We can then use specialised mechanisms for efficiently storing the lexicon and retrieving data from it."
- 7 A formal system defining a formal language. countable
- 8 The basic rules or principles of a field of knowledge or a particular skill. countable, figuratively
"We must learn a new grammar of power in a world that is made up more of the common good – or the common bad – than of self-interest or national interest."
- 9 A book describing these rules or principles; a textbook. British, archaic, countable
"a grammar of geography"
- 10 Ellipsis of grammar school. British, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, informal, uncountable
"He’s the old man’s only son. Some baby! Yep, right behind ya. Nope, he donno me. I was in Grammar when he was in High."
- 11 A set of component patterns, along with the rules for connecting them, which can be combined to form more complex patterns such as large still lifes, oscillators, and spaceships. countable
"Hickerson has a computer program which found a spaceship with speed c/3. In fact a whole grammar of them."
Verb
- 1 To discourse according to the rules of grammar; to use grammar. intransitive, obsolete
"She is in her Moods, and her Tenses: / I'll Grammar with you, / And make a trial how I can decline you"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"This sees English as a system obeying miles of grammar and sentence structure which have to be learned in detail and applied rigorously."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "grammar"?
Common synonyms include: abecedarium, abecedary, alphabet, alphabet book, basics, battledore.
How do you use "grammar" in a sentence?
This sees English as a system obeying miles of grammar and sentence structure which have to be learned in detail and applied rigorously.
How do you pronounce "grammar"?
Pronounced /ˈɡɹæm.ə(ɹ)/.
Etymology
From Middle English gramere, from Old French gramaire (“classical learning”), from unattested Vulgar Latin *grammāria, an alteration of Latin grammatica, from Ancient Greek γραμματική (grammatikḗ, “skilled in writing”), from γράμμα (grámma, “line of writing”), from γράφω (gráphō, “write”), from Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- (“to carve, scratch”). Displaced native Old English stæfcræft; a doublet of glamour, glamoury, gramarye, and grimoire. Piecewise doublet of grammatic.
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