subject matter

noun

Definition of subject matternext
as in topic
the information or ideas that are discussed or dealt with in a book, movie, etc.; what something is about I found the film's subject matter to be quite disturbing. The magazine's editors care more about style than about subject matter. She disapproves of the artist's choice of subject matter.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subject matter The filmmaker is no stranger to controversial subject matter, having made films about Enron, Vladimir Putin, and the Church of Scientology in the past. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2026 Conley, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, dismissed the case without prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and granted the defendants’ sanctions motions. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2026 The Cold War playbook The senior NASA official, however, argued that scholarships may not be sufficient, and a dedicated institution would showcase how vital subject matter expertise has become. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026 The painting’s joyful casualness belies its subject matter, clues to which can be found in the coyote on one of the men’s shirts and in the work’s title, Uncle’s Crossing (2022). — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subject matter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject matter
  1. topic
  2. content
  3. theme
  4. subject
  5. motif
  6. motive
  7. purpose
  8. matter
Noun
  • Such poetic license offers little new insight into a topic that has already been picked over for two decades, but it might be forgiven were Hansen as easily dramatized as he is made fun of.
    — Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • At the University of Miami, the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science is spearheading sea-rise research and has even offered an undergraduate course devoted to the topic.
    — Zoey Thomas, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of topic
Noun
  • Instead, Marc Karimzadeh, senior director of content and communications for the Council of Fashion Designers of America, swung by the workroom.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Serious accusations must be supported by evidence and presented before the appropriate authorities, not through statements in media outlets whose content prioritises sensationalism and media exposure over accuracy and truth.
    — Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of content
Noun
  • The amount of business done between Premier League clubs quickly emerged as the defining theme of this summer’s transfer window.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • At San Sebastián, the film is also in contention for the Sebastiane Award, an honor for films exploring LGBTQIA+ themes and experiences.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of theme
Noun
  • League sources in this story spoke on a condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the subject publicly.
    — Law Murray, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Apple reportedly plans to pitch the iPhone Ultra as a device that's more beneficial for web browsing, framing subjects with a gigantic viewfinder, and most importantly, watching video.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of subject
Noun
  • The intimate dinner celebrated Lierre de Paris, the latest expression of an ivy motif that has wound through the French jeweler’s history for more than a century.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The rooms These hit everything on your bingo card for a stylish hotel room in 2024—there are brass light fixtures, rattan wardrobes, and art-deco curves and tier motifs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of motif
Noun
  • Tamás Don, president of the Hungarian section of AICA (the International Association of Art Critics) has questioned the motive of moving work from the Hungarian National Gallery.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 9 Sep. 2026
  • No political motive was given for his rampage, according to an EU document on the emerging threat of nihilistic extremist violence.
    — Lorne Cook, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of motive
Noun
  • Around for decades, red-light therapy has traditionally been used to treat chronic muscle and joint pain and various injuries, and has shown cosmetic benefits for skin and facial care, purposes for which it’s cleared by the FDA.
    — Mirin Fader, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • One of the Constitution’s founding purposes was to prevent change.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of purpose
Noun
  • The Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission, and Canada’s Competition Bureau have worked together for decades on cross-border antitrust matters, including merger reviews and investigations into potential anticompetitive conduct.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Gutman declined comment on the matter through a CBS News representative.
    — Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of matter

Browse Nearby Words

subjectivity
subject matter
subject matters
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Cite this Entry

“Subject matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject%20matter. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on subject matter

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about subject matter

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