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

Despite the glossy subject matter, Winocour neatly sidesteps clichés, instead searching for quiet moments that give the story emotional resonance. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025

The subject matter is a little near-and-dear to my heart as a TV critic. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Aware of the raw, incendiary power of her subject matter, Ben Hania doesn’t sensationalize this story, keeping the action fixed entirely in the call center itself, with actors portraying the dispatchers on the line. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025

Hill and Giler skillfully avoid virtually every sports movie cliché while still delivering the genre’s rousing satisfactions — this is a spectacularly fun movie in spite of its often grim subject matter. —Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2025

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