subtext
noun
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A literary text often has more than one meaning: the literal meaning of the words on the page, and their hidden meaning, what exists "between the lines"—the subtext. Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, for example, is about the Salem witchcraft trials of the 17th century, but its subtext is the comparison of those trials with the "witch hunts" of the 1950s, when many people were unfairly accused of being communists. Even a social conversation between a man and a woman may have a subtext, but you may have to listen very closely to figure out what it is. Don't confuse subtext with subplot, a less important plot that moves along in parallel with the main plot.
Examples of subtext in a Sentence
EW.com, 11 May 2025
Within hours, politicians on both sides of the aisle were applauding the new pontiff’s election, each with their partisan subtext.
—Christopher Hale, Time, 9 May 2025
The best way to avoid a fight with someone who appears to be seeking one is not to worry yourself about subtext.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 8 May 2025
The subtext: Choose a pope who will take the church in a different direction to Pope Francis – whose progressive reforms angered some conservatives.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtext
Cite this Entry
“Subtext.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtext. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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