subject matter

noun

: matter presented for consideration in discussion, thought, or study

Examples of subject matter in a Sentence

I found the film's subject matter to be quite disturbing.

She disapproves of the artist's choice of subject matter.

Recent Examples on the Web

The production faced its own real-life protests after locals caught wind of the film’s subject matter, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

The lengthy process ensures that the team must avoid timely subject matter. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026

His output more closely resembles that of an old studio film director’s than of a typical contemporary literary novelist, with certain themes and preoccupations reappearing across books of otherwise disparate subject matter. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

The film stays true to its black-comedy genre, given the heavy subject matter, and explores the performative nature of internet culture and male loneliness. — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subject matter

• antimatter
• atter
• batter
• blatter
• catarrh
• chatter
• clatter
• fatter
• flatter
• hatter
• latter
• natter

Kids Definition

subject matter

noun

: matter presented for consideration in discussion, thought, or study

the poem's subject matter