subtlety

[ suht-l-tee ]

noun

plural subtleties.

1. the state or quality of being subtle.
2. delicacy or nicety of character or meaning.
3. acuteness or penetration of mind; delicacy of discrimination.
4. a fine-drawn distinction; refinement of reasoning:

   the subtleties of logic.

5. something subtle.
6. History/Historical. an elaborate confection, ornate in construction and ornamentation, sometimes edible but more often made and used as a decoration for a table or buffet.

subtlety

/ ˈsʌtəltɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being subtle; delicacy
2. a fine distinction or the ability to make such a distinction
3. something subtle

Other Word Forms

• hyper·subtle·ty noun
• non·subtle·ty noun plural nonsubtleties
• over·subtle·ty noun plural oversubtleties

Word History and Origins

Origin of subtlety¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English subtelte, sutilte, from Old French sutilte, from Latin subtīlitāt-, stem of subtīlitās “fineness,” equivalent to subtīli(s) “fine, slender” ( subtile ) + -ty ²

Example Sentences

“The Golden Hour” is an attempt to preserve ambiguity and strangeness in the face of a culture that’s strangled subtlety.

From Los Angeles Times

Kaitlyn’s mother was an immigrant from Vietnam — scrappy and apparently well-versed in the subtleties of the IRS’ cash deposit policy.

From Los Angeles Times

The science of asymptomatic transmission is related to subtleties of the host-pathogen interaction and, in particular, to features that differ from one individual to another.

From Salon

The range of expression required from him on “Dennis the Menace” was not wide, and subtlety was never the point of the show.

From Los Angeles Times

Donald Trump strode into the Rose Garden Wednesday with the elegance and subtlety of a sledgehammer.

From Salon

Related Words

• elegance
• intricacy