subliminal

American  

[suhb-lim-uh-nl] / sʌbˈlɪm ə 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.

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subliminal British  

/ 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

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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

• nonsubliminal adjective
• nonsubliminally adverb
• subliminally adverb

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.

Example Sentences

First and foremost, Savannah Guthrie is famous in this subliminal, monocultural way that is unique to celebrities who host network morning shows.

From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026

Research into the psychology of food waste tends to focus on nudges, which are subliminal actions to change behavior, such as menus designed to highlight plant-based options.

From Salon • May 6, 2024

Some may be tempted to dust off their old copies of L'Express from the Grumbach years in search of subliminal pro-Soviet messaging.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2024

Connection and social cohesion together form a subliminal theme encountered all over the Regen Projects show, which is composed of never-before-exhibited photographs.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2024

They won’t buy a television, like everyone else, because my father says it turns you into a cretin and emits harmful radiation and subliminal messages as well.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

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