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
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2024
Trump’s threat to deny federal funding to schools that acknowledge transgender identities could affect curricula and the kinds of books school libraries stock.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
Part of that curriculum involved Día de los Muertos, which Gonzales described as an Indigenous ceremony that dates back millennia to the Aztec people of Mexico.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
All students are required to take fine arts and humanities courses as part of their undergraduate core curriculum, with the goal of promoting critical thinking and helping students examine problems through multiple lenses.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 14 Nov. 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 28 Nov. 2024.
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curriculum
noun
also curriculums
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