headline

American  

[hed-lahyn] / ˈhɛdˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a heading in a newspaper for any written material, sometimes for an illustration, to indicate subject matter, set in larger type than that of the copy and containing one or more words and lines and often several banks.

2. the largest such heading on the front page, usually at the top.

3. the line at the top of a page, containing the title, pagination, etc.

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verb (used with object)

headlined, headlining

1. to furnish with a headline.

2. to mention or name in a headline.

3. to publicize, feature, or star (a specific performer, product, etc.).

4. to be the star of (a show, nightclub act, etc.)

verb (used without object)

headlined, headlining

1. to be the star of an entertainment.

headline British  

/ ˈhɛdˌlaɪn /

noun

1. Also called: head.   heading. 

   1. a phrase at the top of a newspaper or magazine article indicating the subject of the article, usually in larger and heavier type

   2. a line at the top of a page indicating the title, page number, etc

2. (usually plural) the main points of a television or radio news broadcast, read out before the full broadcast and summarized at the end

3. to become prominent in the news

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verb

1. (tr) to furnish (a story or page) with a headline

2. to have top billing (in)

Etymology

Origin of headline

First recorded in 1620–30; head + line ¹

Explanation

A headline is the title of a newspaper story. You'll know the headline, because it's printed in the largest font on the front of the paper. Printed newspapers have headlines, and online journals, magazines, and newspapers also use headlines. A headline is the title of a story in the paper, and it's usually easy to spot by its large, bold letters. Sometimes television and radio news also use the word headline to mean the biggest, most important news stories of the day. The word was originally a printer's term for the title and page number, and by 1890 it meant "newspaper title."

Example Sentences

There are around a dozen other candidates, but none is expected to trouble the headline writers.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

Here’s the headline: You have unusually strong income security, with two Social Security checks, a pension, a spouse still earning a salary with another 80% pension on the way, and long-term-care insurance in the bag.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

Will he emphasize headline inflation, core inflation, other inflation measures, consumer expectations, financial conditions or signs of slowing demand?

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2026

May’s headline reading missed the 50.1 tipped by a Wall Street Journal survey of economists.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

The newspaper is on the table, and I glance at the large headline type.

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass

Related Words

• caption
• title