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

The theme song passed 13 million YouTube views and peaked at number two on the IFPI Official Vietnam Singles Chart. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2026

The host of the Arthur Aidala Power Hour on AM970 radio has debuted the show’s new theme song inspired by the sound tracks of Frank Sinatra and Bruce Springsteen via the magic of AI. — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026

The idea was to make a movie that would be like ‘Beach Blanket Balloon’ — that never happened, but in my mind that was the theme song. — Brett Milano, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2026

Instead, the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song began playing, and Sierra ran in with her sword. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 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