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Synonyms

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.


subject matter British  

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of subject matter

First recorded in 1590–1600


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.

See Examples For:

But though “Primetime” fails to be a deservedly introspective analysis of its subject matter, it does tee up fair questions about its own existence.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

At Washington Monthly, they’ve incorporated an earnings metric for years and they try to control to some extent for subject matter, but it can be challenging, he said.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026

The past was basically: Become a subject matter expert, define what you’re better at than everybody else and then that is essentially how you make yourself rare and valuable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

"Troy and Liam in particular are performers where they get really invested in their characters and subject matter," Daly said.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

Why a teddy bear choking on a bubble seemed appropriate subject matter, I can’t say.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

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