ShortMeaning, pronunciation & vowel sounds
Thesis Meaning & Pronunciation
/ˈθiːsɪs/ · noun
A thesis is either a long piece of academic writing based on original research, usually for a university degree, or the main claim an essay or argument sets out to prove. The plural is theses.
How to say it
How to pronounce thesis
thesis
The vowel breakdown
Vowel sounds in thesis
Each vowel sound below shows the letters that spell it, the sound they make, and the phonics pattern behind it.
The first syllable the- ends in a vowel, so e says its own name, as in me and he.
Practise this pattern →Consonant notes
The voiceless th: air only, with the tongue between the teeth. Compare the voiced th in this. Learn more →
Definition
What does thesis mean?
A long piece of writing based on original research, submitted for a university degree.
“She spent two years writing her master's thesis on coastal erosion.”
A statement or idea that a writer or speaker sets out to support or prove.
“The essay's thesis is that cities grow best when they invest in public transport.”
Word forms: thesis · theses (plural, /ˈθiːsiːz/)
A thesis statement is the one or two sentences that state an essay's main claim. Usage of thesis and dissertation differs by country: in the US a thesis is usually a master's project and a dissertation a doctoral one, while in the UK the terms are often reversed.
Where it comes from
Origin of thesis
Thesis comes from Greek thesis, meaning a placing or a proposition, from tithenai, to put or to place.
Similar words
Frequently asked questions
What does thesis mean?
A thesis is a long piece of research writing for a university degree, or the central claim that an essay or argument aims to prove.
What is the plural of thesis?
The plural is theses, pronounced /ˈθiːsiːz/, or THEE-seez. The final e is a long E sound.
How do you pronounce thesis?
Thesis is /ˈθiːsɪs/, or THEE-sis. Start with the voiceless th sound, then a long E, and stress the first syllable.
What is the difference between a thesis and a dissertation?
It depends on the country. In the US a thesis is usually a master's project and a dissertation is doctoral, while in the UK the terms are often the other way around.