designating or pertaining to a style of printing types in which the letters usually slope to the right, patterned upon a compact manuscript hand, and used for emphasis, to separate different kinds of information, etc..
These words are in italic type.
(initial capital letter) of or relating to Italy, especially ancient Italy or its tribes.
Often italics. italic type.
(initial capital letter) a branch of the Indo-European family of languages, including ancient Latin, Oscan, Umbrian, and modern Romance.
a style of printing type modelled on this, chiefly used to indicate emphasis, a foreign word, etc Compare roman 1
(often plural) italic type or print
1555–65; < Latin Italicus < Greek Italikós, equivalent to Ital ( ía ) Italy + -ikos -ic
Italic is a typeface or font style that slants to the right. Most writers use italic type to emphasize certain words or phrases. You can use the word italic as a noun or an adjective, usually in the form "italic type," or italics. Either way, it describes the kind of cursive-styled typeface that leans at an angle. Some writers use italic type to indicate a character's speech, or to emphasize words the character stresses. You can also use italic type for words in foreign languages or the titles of long works, like novels or films.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He compared autonomy to the development of Microsoft Word -- concentrating on swarms was like obsessing over the button that makes text italic, instead of the whole programme.
From Barron's ● May 15, 2026
Other features fit with what we know of Milton's neat italic hand, which rarely featured joined letters.
From Science Daily ● May 15, 2024
His corpus includes everything from major paintings and epic films to Mylar balloons and generic business portraits to monosyllabic interview responses and the standard italic font that became wholly identified with his rubber-stamped signature.
From New York Times ● May 3, 2020
This transcript is lightly edited, with Times clarifications in italic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2018
All abridging remarks and other comments will be in this fancy italic type so you’ll know.
From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman
Rosario A. Iaconis, chairman of the Italic Institute of America, writes about Italy and its cultural influence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Severus and Julia were Romans, but neither was of Italic descent.
From The New Yorker ● Oct. 22, 2018
The writer is chairman of the Italic Institute of America.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 28, 2016
Zaums has taught courses on the different variations of Italic, the most common script, “which people pretty much identify as calligraphy.”
From Washington Times ● Apr. 20, 2015
Look again at the little Shakespeare poem in the Italic alphabet on Plate VIII.
From Ciphers For the Little Folks A Method of Teaching the Greatest Work of Sir Francis Bacon by Dorothy Crain
But lately the leaders at the 125-year-old law firm spent hours discussing the merits of italics within a custom-made typeface and selecting the exact shade of blue that best communicates the energy of its lawyers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
“It’s not what’s working that gives us concern, it’s what’s not working,” he wrote, and the italics were his.
From MarketWatch ● May 20, 2026
The italics are mine, so put a pin on that phrase because it’s important.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2025
New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, a member of House Republican leadership, is presenting herself in italics.
From Slate ● May 30, 2024
Even if the listing in Sidney’s Animal & Fowl is in italics.
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
