topic

noun

top·​ic ˈtä-pik 

1

a

: the subject of a discourse or of a section of a discourse

b

: a heading in an outlined argument or exposition

2

a

: argument, reason

b

: one of the general forms of argument employed in probable reasoning

Synonyms

• theme
• matter
• subject
• question
• motif

Examples of topic in a Sentence

He is comfortable discussing a wide range of topics.

topics such as health and fitness

Recent Examples on the Web

All of that, plus other topics, were part of this week’s episode of the Heat Check. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025

Things spiraled out of control, leading the company to stop the chatbot from engaging on the topic. —Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025

That's how the film lures in its audience: The jovial concept gives way to the more serious topic of man's colonization of nature. —Devan Coggan, EW.com, 1 Aug. 2025

The towable surrogate target replicates the system's radar vehicle, a Chinese military observer who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic told Newsweek. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin Topica Topics (work by Aristotle), from Greek Topika, from topika, neuter plural of topikos of a place, of a topos, from topos place, topos

First Known Use

circa 1569, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Phrases Containing topic

• sub-topic
• topic of discussion
• topic sentence

Rhymes for topic

• tropic
• adrenocorticotropic
• anisotropic
• gonadotropic
• heterotopic
• kaleidoscopic
• ophthalmoscopic
• stereoscopic
• submicroscopic
• anthropic
• atopic
• ectopic

Kids Definition

topic

noun

top·​ic ˈtäp-ik 

1

: a heading in an outline of a subject or explanation

2

: the subject or a section of a subject (as of a speech or a report)