titular

1 of 2

adjective

tit·​u·​lar ˈti-chə-lər 

ˈtich-lər

1

a

: having the title and usually the honors belonging to an office or dignity without the duties, functions, or responsibilities

the titular head of a political party

b

: existing in title only

especially : bearing a title derived from a defunct ecclesiastical jurisdiction (such as an episcopal see)

a titular bishop

2

: of, relating to, or constituting a title

the titular hero of the play

3

: bearing a title : titled

titularly adverb

titular

2 of 2

noun

: a person holding a title

Synonyms

Adjective

• nominal

Examples of titular in a Sentence

Adjective

Although retired, he remains the titular chairman of the company.

he's the titular head of the department, though it's the assistant managers who largely run things around here

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Davidson says, quoting an exchange between Sylvester Stallone's titular boxer and his on-screen trainer, Burgess Meredith's Mickey. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 8 Aug. 2025

Their father-daughter costume was inspired by Beetlejuice — Appleton channeled Michael Keaton as the titular villain and Kitty-Blu dressed up as Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz. —Ariana Quihuiz, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025

The documentary does a deep dive into the life of the titular flamboyant astrologer, beloved and revered by Latino families for multiple generations. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025

The titular sisters of this expansive, lightly metafictional novel, the Mikkolas, are haunted by an intergenerational curse. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin titulus title

First Known Use

Adjective

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1540, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for titular

• capitular

Kids Definition

titular

adjective

tit·​u·​lar

ˈtich-(ə-)lər

: being something in title only : nominal

the titular head of state

titularly adverb