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 of titular

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

The titular bed trick refers to the literary device, beloved by Shakespeare and by opera buffa, in which a lover sneaks into a bed and, under cover of darkness, is taken for someone else. — S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026

The episode served as somewhat of a series reboot for the show, with its titular character now coaching a women’s soccer team instead of a men’s program. — Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2026

Drama ranged from love triangles to nasty step-parents, tell-all novels to murder — all with the titular Gossip Girl watching and narrating it all. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026

Brody starred as the titular kid detective Abe Applebaum in the film, which debuted at TIFF in 2020. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026

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