subtitle

1 of 2

noun

sub·​ti·​tle ˈsəb-ˌtī-tᵊl 

1

: a secondary or explanatory title

2

: a printed statement or fragment of dialogue appearing on the screen between the scenes of a silent motion picture or appearing as a translation at the bottom of the screen during the scenes of a motion picture or television show in a foreign language

subtitle

2 of 2

verb

subtitled; subtitling; subtitles

transitive verb

: to give a subtitle to

Examples of subtitle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Language English, Indonesian, French with English subtitles Warren Ellis has lived many lives, ultimately emerging from trauma and drug abuse to embark on a journey of personal healing. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2024

The filmmakers spend the first third cutting back and forth between these young women and their dads, with an occasional countdown subtitle letting folks know how long until these family members get an actual physical reunion. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2024

Verb

France, Germany, Italy, and Spain prefer dubbing; the Nordic territories and the Netherlands love their subtitling. —Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 30 July 2024

The disappointing nature of recent growth is also the theme of an influential little book, The Great Stagnation, by the economist Tyler Cowen, which is subtitled How America Ate All the Low-Hanging Fruit of Modern History, Got Sick, and Will (Eventually) Feel Better. —Martin Wolf, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2015

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1830, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

subtitle

noun

sub·​ti·​tle

ˈsəb-ˌtīt-ᵊl

1

: a secondary or explanatory title

2

: a printed statement or bit of dialogue appearing on the screen between the scenes of a silent movie or at the bottom of the screen during the scenes of a television show or movie for viewers with hearing loss or as a translation of a foreign language

subtitle verb