curriculum
noun
also curriculums
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The Different Plural Forms of Curriculum
Curriculum is from New Latin (a post-medieval form of Latin used mainly in churches and schools and for scientific coinages), in which language it means “a course of study.” It shares its ultimate root in classical Latin, where it meant “running” or “course” (as in “race course”), with words such as corridor, courier, and currency, all of which come from Latin currere “to run.”
As is the case with many nouns borrowed directly from Latin, there is often some confusion as to the proper way to form its plural. Both curricula and curriculums are considered correct.
This word is frequently seen in conjunction with vitae; a curriculum vitae (Latin for “course of (one’s) life”) is “a short account of one's career and qualifications prepared typically by an applicant for a position” – in other words, a résumé. Curriculum vitae is abbreviated CV, and is pluralized as curricula vitae.
Examples of curriculum in a Sentence
Andrew Freedman, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
Each college has its own general education curriculum.
—Gary Robbins, The Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2024
Primer, who has worked in student nutrition within California’s public school system for 10 years, applied for grant funding from the state to kick off the curriculum, and got it.
—Frida Garza, WIRED, 19 Oct. 2024
Ira Porter/The Christian Science Monitor Building an Intel curriculum
The Intel model for CSCC came with a $2.8 million grant to build out curricula for instructors to share with other community colleges.
—Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for curriculum 
Dictionary Entries Near curriculum
Cite this Entry
“Curriculum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curriculum. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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curriculum
noun
also curriculums
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