subliminal

[suhb-lim-uh-nl]

adjective

Psychology.

1. existing or operating below the threshold of consciousness; being or employing stimuli insufficiently intense to produce a discrete sensation but often being or designed to be intense enough to influence the mental processes or the behavior of the individual.

   a subliminal stimulus;

   subliminal advertising.

subliminal

/ sʌbˈlɪmɪnəl /

adjective

1. resulting from processes of which the individual is not aware

2. (of stimuli) less than the minimum intensity or duration required to elicit a response

Other Word Forms

• subliminally adverb
• nonsubliminal adjective
• nonsubliminally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of subliminal¹

First recorded in 1885–90; sub- + Latin līmin-, stem of līmen “threshold” + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of subliminal¹

C19: from Latin _sub- below + līmen threshold

Example Sentences

"I wanted to give a little subliminal hint that I may be ending the Eras Tour era, but I may be entering a new era," she said.

From BBC

She has clients record themselves vocalizing their wants, turning down the volume on the recording until it’s inaudible, overlaying it with calming music and listening to it on repeat — a technique known as “subliminal hypnosis.”

From Los Angeles Times

This “fantastical, mythical” creature is something of an obsession for the Honduran experimental pop artist, and this trope is subliminally captured throughout the 13 tracks on “Vanity,” which drops June 27.

From Los Angeles Times

Defendants are often given permission to wear their own clothes during a trial, as prison outfits could subliminally influence a jury's decision.

From BBC

“That trust shows up subliminally on screen because there’s very little dialogue that exists outside of radio talk,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• innate 
• instinctive 
• latent 
• lost 
• repressed 
• suppressed 

When To Use

What is a subliminal message?

A subliminal message is a technique used in marKEting and other media to influencE People without theiR bEing Aware of what the messenger is DoING.This may involve the use of split second flashes of text, hidden images, or subtle cues that affect the audience at a level below conscious awareness.