subliminal
Americanadjective
adjective
-
resulting from processes of which the individual is not aware
-
(of stimuli) less than the minimum intensity or duration required to elicit a response
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of subliminal
First recorded in 1885–90; sub- + Latin līmin-, stem of līmen “threshold” + -al 1
Explanation
Each of your five senses constantly sends new information to your brain. And there’s another way your brain receives information: through subliminal messages. The unconscious mind picks up on things you don’t even realize. Faint humming might make you irritated. Red lights can raise your blood temperature. Usually, subliminal methods are used to control people, like flashing words quickly during a television program. If you’re worried, there’s not much you can do, because subliminal literally means “below the threshold” or surface of your conscious mind, and you probably will never even notice that you’re being controlled. Try reading only the capital letters of this definition for an example of a subliminal message.
Vocabulary lists containing subliminal
Latin Root "sub" Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Power Prefix: sub-
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Subliminal seduction, indeed: Sendak’s book is seeded with deeper meanings, not just about “the dignity and truth of the human body” but about his own homosexuality, and his Jewish historical consciousness.
From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2019
The re-release, which will be feted with a public pop-up store event Sunday at artist Shepard Fairey’s Subliminal Projects space in Echo Park, has grown to 632 pages with 52 photos and lyrics for 141 songs.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2017
It was the first of its kind in Israel and influenced many Israeli hip-hop artists like Hadag Nahash, Subliminal, and Shabak Samech.”
From Slate • Dec. 11, 2015
Hold on tight This article was excerpted from the new book "Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior" from Pantheon.
From Salon • May 28, 2012
This way lie metaphysics, with Hegel’s theory of the Sensitive Soul, or Myers’ theory of the Subliminal Self.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
