diff --git a/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/CHANGELOG.md b/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/CHANGELOG.md
index 2f839b94b92e..874bf1cde56a 100644
--- a/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 ## 11.2.0b4 (Unreleased)
 
+**New features**
+
+- Added `create_from_file` for `SynonymMap`
 
 ## 11.2.0b3 (2021-05-11)
 
diff --git a/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/azure/search/documents/indexes/models/_models.py b/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/azure/search/documents/indexes/models/_models.py
index f80dbdc8f6ef..a48ac6dee0dc 100644
--- a/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/azure/search/documents/indexes/models/_models.py
+++ b/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/azure/search/documents/indexes/models/_models.py
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ class SynonymMap(msrest.serialization.Model):
     :vartype format: str
     :param synonyms: Required. A series of synonym rules in the specified synonym map format. The
      rules must be separated by newlines.
-    :type synonyms: str
+    :type synonyms: list[str]
     :param encryption_key: A description of an encryption key that you create in Azure Key Vault.
      This key is used to provide an additional level of encryption-at-rest for your data when you
      want full assurance that no one, not even Microsoft, can decrypt your data in Azure Cognitive
@@ -463,6 +463,16 @@ def _from_generated(cls, synonym_map):
             e_tag=synonym_map.e_tag
         )
 
+    @classmethod
+    def create_from_file(cls, name, file_path):
+        with open(file_path, "r") as f:
+            solr_format_synonyms = f.read()
+            synonyms = solr_format_synonyms.split("\n")
+            return cls(
+                name=name,
+                synonyms=synonyms
+            )
+
 class SearchIndexerDataSourceConnection(msrest.serialization.Model):
     """Represents a datasource connection definition, which can be used to configure an indexer.
 
diff --git a/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/samples/async_samples/sample_synonym_map_operations_async.py b/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/samples/async_samples/sample_synonym_map_operations_async.py
index 9ce962b1fdf1..677a8b9690b5 100644
--- a/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/samples/async_samples/sample_synonym_map_operations_async.py
+++ b/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/samples/async_samples/sample_synonym_map_operations_async.py
@@ -32,11 +32,11 @@
 
 async def create_synonym_map():
     # [START create_synonym_map_async]
-    solr_format_synonyms = "\n".join([
+    synonyms = [
         "USA, United States, United States of America",
         "Washington, Wash. => WA",
-    ])
-    synonym_map = SynonymMap(name="test-syn-map", synonyms=solr_format_synonyms)
+    ]
+    synonym_map = SynonymMap(name="test-syn-map", synonyms=synonyms)
     result = await client.create_synonym_map(synonym_map)
     print("Create new Synonym Map 'test-syn-map succeeded")
     # [END create_synonym_map_async]
diff --git a/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/samples/sample_synonym_map_operations.py b/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/samples/sample_synonym_map_operations.py
index 607d56dadfe9..c390d2ec7625 100644
--- a/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/samples/sample_synonym_map_operations.py
+++ b/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/samples/sample_synonym_map_operations.py
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@
 
 def create_synonym_map():
     # [START create_synonym_map]
-    solr_format_synonyms = "\n".join([
+    synonyms = [
         "USA, United States, United States of America",
         "Washington, Wash. => WA",
-    ])
-    synonym_map = SynonymMap(name="test-syn-map", synonyms=solr_format_synonyms)
+    ]
+    synonym_map = SynonymMap(name="test-syn-map", synonyms=synonyms)
     result = client.create_synonym_map(synonym_map)
     print("Create new Synonym Map 'test-syn-map succeeded")
     # [END create_synonym_map]
diff --git a/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/tests/synonym_map.txt b/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/tests/synonym_map.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..96f535332c9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/tests/synonym_map.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+USA, United States, United States of America
+Washington, Wash. => WA
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/tests/test_synonym_map.py b/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/tests/test_synonym_map.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c47bd1fa2881
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sdk/search/azure-search-documents/tests/test_synonym_map.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# ------------------------------------
+# Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.
+# Licensed under the MIT License.
+# ------------------------------------
+from os.path import dirname, join, realpath
+from azure.search.documents.indexes.models import SynonymMap
+
+def test_create_synonym_map_from_file():
+    CWD = dirname(realpath(__file__))
+    path = join(CWD, "synonym_map.txt")
+    synonym_map = SynonymMap.create_from_file('test', path)
+    assert len(synonym_map.synonyms) == 2
+    assert synonym_map.synonyms[0] == 'USA, United States, United States of America'
+    assert synonym_map.synonyms[1] == 'Washington, Wash. => WA'
\ No newline at end of file