closed caption

[ klohzd kap-shuhn ]

noun

, Movies, Television, Digital Technology.

1. a transcription or translation of dialogue, together with a written description of other audio elements, as sound effects, music, or atmospheric sounds, time-synchronized with a television program, film, or video, and displayed as a text overlay, usually on the lower part of the screen: closed captions can be enabled or disabled and are visible only when turned on: : CC Compare open caption ( def ).

   The bartender at the airport restaurant had turned on the closed captions, and a few people were watching a sitcom and laughing.

Other Words From

• closed-cap·tion verb (used with object)
• closed-cap·tioned [klohzd, -, kap, -sh, uh, nd], adjective
• closed cap·tion·er noun
• closed cap·tion·ing closed-cap·tion·ing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of closed caption¹

First recorded in 1975–80