subtitle

1 of 2

noun

sub·​ti·​tle ˈsəb-ˌtī-tᵊl 

1

: a secondary or explanatory title

2

: a printed statement or fragment of dialogue appearing on the screen between the scenes of a silent movie or appearing as a translation at the bottom of the screen during the scenes of a movie or television show in a foreign language

subtitle

2 of 2

verb

subtitled; subtitling; subtitles

transitive verb

: to give a subtitle to

Examples of subtitle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Although the subtitle refers to the disappearance of Lila’s daughter Tina, in the series finale, Lenù loses her own eldest daughters in a sense: Elsa runs away with Lila’s son Gennaro, whom her older sister Dede had loved for years, while a heartbroken Dede joins her father in America. —Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024

The beauty about Netflix and these platforms is everything’s available, and people are not afraid to read subtitles and watch something with subtitles. —Max Gao, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

In English, the book is subtitled A Health Resort Horror Story, and Tokarczuk works hard to insinuate an undercurrent of dread through all the proceedings. —Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2024

The deal will see the shows carried in English subtitled in Arabic. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1830, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

subtitle

noun

sub·​ti·​tle

ˈsəb-ˌtīt-ᵊl

1

: a secondary or explanatory title

2

: a printed statement or bit of dialogue appearing on the screen between the scenes of a silent movie or at the bottom of the screen during the scenes of a television show or movie for viewers with hearing loss or as a translation of a foreign language

subtitle verb