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

---

Etymology

Origin of subject matter

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Bringing audiences in close proximity to stories and subject matter often overlooked forged the name of the company, which now includes feature film, television, nonfiction, music and podcasting departments.

From Los Angeles Times

“I don’t know why anyone would want to try to write their own security code. … You need someone who is more knowledgeable in the subject matter to write that software for you,” said Needham’s Berg.

From MarketWatch

Competitors without deep content and subject matter expertise “will find it difficult…to replicate,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Nature as a subject matter was not seen as the right thing for art to be engaging with. Now, obviously it's changed. It's the only subject."

From BBC

Blaming hip hop for these realities is like faulting a photograph for its subject matter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• subject
• text
• topic