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What’s the Plural of Schema?

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Elan Yash

Elan is head of design and tech. He's also a contributor at Grammarflex.

What’s the plural of “schema”?

Either schemas or schemata works as the plural of schema.

👍🏼Usage Note
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The database schema needs to be updated.
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We developed two different website schemas.
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The project manager reviewed several implementation schema.
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This single schemata was too complex.

Is schema singular or plural?

Schema is singular. Schemata and schemas are the plural of schema.

What does the word schema mean?

The word and noun schema is defined in the dictionary as, “a drawing that represents an idea or theory and makes it easier to understand.”

💡Study Tip

Visualize one “schema” as a single drawing, and multiple “schemas/schemata” as a gallery of related drawings representing a larger, complex idea.

Greek noun forms

Word Form Examples
Other An accident, in this schema, is what happens when the holes in several layers of cheese line up perfectly: an aperture of atrocity.  Rhoda Feng, The New Republic, 6 Apr. 2022

But the trading landscape can flourish once the fraternity comes together under a unified trading schema. Lawrence Wintermeyer, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022

Just make sure to pay attention to the US sizing schema, which is slightly different, and pick whichever color suits you! Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 2 June 2022

Samsung has also changed the naming schema of its Galaxy Watch series again.

Even more intriguing is that Apple may implement this new design schema on the upcoming iPhone 14 Pro models.  Yoni Heisler, BGR, 25 Mar. 2022

Examples of schemas/schemata used in context

Word Form Examples
Other I t is remarkable that the definition of the infallibility of the pope did not appear among the projects (schemata) prepared for the deliberations of the Vatican Council (1869).

At birth, schemata are reflexive in nature.

Piaget described and accounted for the change of schemata with accommodation.

Less reciprocal discourse will also activate schemata.

In English both schemas and schemata are used as plural forms.

Origin of the word schema

From etymonline on schema:

Plural schemata, 1796, in Kantian philosophy (“a product of the imagination intermediary between an image and a concept“), from Greek skhēma “figure, appearance, the nature of a thing”.

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Worksheet

Question 1 of 10

What is one of the correct plural forms of “schema” mentioned in the post?





FAQs

What’s the plural of “schema”?
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According to the post, both “schemas” and “schemata” are acceptable plural forms of “schema.” You can use either one when referring to more than one schema.

Is “schema” singular or plural?
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The post explicitly states that “schema” is the singular form of the word. The plural forms are “schemas” and “schemata,” as discussed in the usage notes.

What does the word schema mean?
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The post defines “schema” as a noun meaning “a drawing that represents an idea or theory and makes it easier to understand.” It visualizes complex concepts.

Which plural form of schema is correct?
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Both “schemas” and “schemata” are correct and acceptable plural forms for the word “schema.” The post notes that “schemas” is a common plural form.

Can schema be used as plural?
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No, the post shows that using “schema” as a plural is a common mistake. The singular form requires a singular context. Use “schemas” or “schemata” for plural contexts.

Yash, D. "What’s the Plural of Schema?." Grammarflex, Jun 23, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-plural-of-schema/.

Sources

  1. “Etymology of schema.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/schema. Accessed 15 January, 2023.‍

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