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

Silicon Valley has paled in comparison to Wall Street as a sexy subject matter on the big screen historically, as research by Rentrak found, though box office totals are not apples-to-apples comparisons of performance. — Liz Rappaport, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026

The spare, focused style of Naza has a grim, artful beauty, all in service of the subject matter. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

Russell’s previous things, HBO put money into, but the whole anti-DEI crusade has meant that a subject matter like this has made American companies scared to invest in it. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Nevertheless, priority is given to event documentaries with high-impact subject matter, exceptional access and/or exclusivity. — Ed Meza, Variety, 8 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