rubric

[ roo-brik ]

noun

1. a title, heading, direction, or the like, in a manuscript, book, statute, etc., written or printed in red or otherwise distinguished from the rest of the text.
2. a direction for the conduct of divine service or the administration of the sacraments, inserted in liturgical books.
3. any established mode of conduct or procedure; protocol.
4. an explanatory comment; gloss.
5. a class or category
6. Archaic. red ocher.

adjective

1. written, inscribed in, or marked with or as with red; rubrical.
2. Archaic. red; ruddy.

rubric

/ ˈruːbrɪk /

noun

1. a title, heading, or initial letter in a book, manuscript, or section of a legal code, esp one printed or painted in red ink or in some similarly distinguishing manner
2. a set of rules of conduct or procedure
3. a set of directions for the conduct of Christian church services, often printed in red in a prayer book or missal
4. instructions to a candidate at the head of the examination paper
5. an obsolete name for red ochre

adjective

1. written, printed, or marked in red

Derived Forms

• ˈrubrical, adjective
• ˈrubrically, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubric¹

1325–75; < Latin rūbrīca red ocher (derivative of ruber red ¹ ); replacing Middle English rubriche, rubrike (noun) < Old French

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubric¹

C15 rubrike red ochre, red lettering, from Latin rubrīca ( terra ) red (earth), ruddle, from ruber red

Example Sentences

But for some center-right media outlets, this probably fit into the "too good to check" rubric.

From The Daily Beast

Cut to popular programs are just put under this Function 920 rubric, which allows them to pretend they're not real.

From The Daily Beast

Bain Capital and its ilk were called leveraged buyout firms back then, but whatever the rubric, the business is the same.

From The Daily Beast

Throughout the week, leaders will focus on regions in transition under the rather broad rubric “The New Context.”

From The Daily Beast

It is within this rubric that Romney utters the line in which his campaign is about “saving the soul of America.”

From The Daily Beast

He opposed, as has been said, the rubric bidding the communicants kneel; the attitude savoured of “idolatry.”

From Project Gutenberg

However, the fact that to this extent the rubric of Edward VI.

From Project Gutenberg

This was in accordance, as far as it went, with the original rubric of Edward VI.

From Project Gutenberg

Plainly, you cannot base foreign customs on an English rubric.

From Project Gutenberg

However, the rubric disappeared; and, I think, happily and providentially.

From Project Gutenberg