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

Friday's episode of the blue brand received praise from fans, as the show marked the return of Shinsuke Nakamura and Tama Tonga, along with the aforementioned return of old theme songs. —Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Poor Bersten had his work cut out for him this week, having to choreograph a killer quickstep to the theme song from …. —Lynette Rice, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025

See the trailer for the first episode above, and the all-new theme song below. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2025

The international rollout is expected to fuel even greater global momentum for the theme song as well. —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025

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