subject matter

American  

noun

1. the substance of a discussion, book, writing, etc., as distinguished from its form or style.

2. the matter that is subject to some action.

3. the matter out of which a thing is formed.

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subject matter British  

noun

1. the substance or main theme of a book, discussion, debate, etc

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Etymology

Origin of subject matter

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

While the subject matter is drawn from traditional Japanese art and the other materials are ancient in their legacy, these quiet meditations are hyper contemporary.

From The Wall Street Journal

Thanks to his subject matter and materials, Mr. Otsuki’s work feels timeless, while his intentional, unshowy formal choices make it an invigorating counterpoint to so much of the noisy art popular at the moment.

From The Wall Street Journal

Critics of the rule have proposed changes such as increasing the $2,000 threshold or narrowing the subject matter allowed under the rule, as the SEC did last year.

From The Wall Street Journal

While producers were confident the film could have been shot in Turkey despite the sensitive subject matter, Germany was chosen to illustrate the fact that threats to artistic freedom are universal.

From Barron's

“There is something magical that comes from a resonance between the subject matter and the aesthetic and the behind-the-scenes techniques,” said Slattery.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• subject
• text
• topic