theme song

noun

plural theme songs

1

: a song or melody strongly associated with someone or something

a famous performer's theme song

the theme song of a political campaign

often : an identifying melody or song typically played at the beginning of a movie, television show, etc., and sometimes recurring during its course

Some of these shows were truly unforgettable, with catchy theme songs that are instantly recognizable decades later.

—Grant Butler

2

: a statement, expression, or opinion repeatedly heard from someone

But literary history is also entangled with criticism. Inevitably so; let me revert unblushingly to my theme song: in order to appreciate a masterpiece, we must be acquainted with its language …

—Albert Guerard

Examples of theme song in a Sentence

He was playing the theme song from “The Godfather.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Gunther Fans sang along to Gunther’s theme song (melodically), but fans were also 100% behind Cody Rhodes for his entrance as well, singing every word of his theme music. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

While not made with AI, Pratt created another video channeling The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, writing his own lyrics to the show’s iconic theme song to embrace criticisms of his living situation. —Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2026

And all through high school, all through middle school, that was my theme song. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026

The show’s theme song, which has been updated for the new series, remains popular on TikTok among teens who first watched the show as preschoolers. —Amy Amatangelo, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for theme song

• evensong
• livelong
• overlong
• vietcong
• agung
• along
• belong
• birdsong
• furlong
• headlong
• headstrong
• lifelong