subtext
noun
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A literary text often has more than one meaning: the literal meaning of the words on the page, and their hidden meaning, what exists "between the lines"—the subtext. Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, for example, is about the Salem witchcraft trials of the 17th century, but its subtext is the comparison of those trials with the "witch hunts" of the 1950s, when many people were unfairly accused of being communists. Even a social conversation between a man and a woman may have a subtext, but you may have to listen very closely to figure out what it is. Don't confuse subtext with subplot, a less important plot that moves along in parallel with the main plot.
Examples of subtext in a Sentence
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 21 Feb. 2025
The subtext becomes text, and the film isn’t quite scary enough to make up for its mostly leaden message.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Asked whether moving Wade to the outfield could allow the Giants to get another left-handed hitter into the lineup at first base, Melvin sniffed the subtext of the question.
—Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
That’s the likely unintended subtext throughout the various behind-the-scenes documentaries produced by NBC ahead of the show’s 50th anniversary special airing Sunday.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtext
Cite this Entry
“Subtext.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtext. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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