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

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

Other Word Forms

• closed-caption verb (used with object)
• closed-captioned adjective
• closed captioner noun
• closed captioning noun
• closed-captioning noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of closed caption¹

First recorded in 1975–80