content analysis

American

noun

analysis to determine the meaning, purpose, or effect of any type of communication, as literature, newspapers, or broadcasts, by studying and evaluating the details, innuendoes, and implications of the content, recurrent themes, etc.

Etymology

Origin of content analysis

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Instead of showing content from accounts that users already follow, the endless scroll of TikTok's "For You" page is based on viewing habits, engagement patterns and sophisticated content analysis.

From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025

The subtle changes in tone that convey sarcasm often confuse computer algorithms as well, limiting virtual assistants and content analysis tools.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2024

This came out as a content analysis of TikTok, but it’s specifically about the conspiracy theory that Taylor Swift is secretly gay, and she's closeted and dropping all these hints in her tracks.

From Salon • May 5, 2024

Using the machine-learning algorithm, Cook and his colleagues conducted the largest content analysis of contrarian claims to date.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 9, 2021

That’s hard to know without deeper content analysis.

From Washington Post • Sep. 21, 2016

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023