titular

[tich-uh-ler, tit-yuh-]

adjective

1. existing or being such in title only; nominal; having the title but none of the associated duties, powers, etc..

   the titular head of the company.

2. from whom or which a title or name is taken.

   His titular Saint is Michael.

3. of, relating to, or of the nature of a title.

4. having a title, especially of rank.

5. designating any of the Roman Catholic churches in Rome whose nominal incumbents are cardinals.

noun

1. a person who bears a title.

2. a person from whom or thing from which a title or name is taken.

3. Ecclesiastical.,  a person entitled to a benefice but not required to perform its duties.

titular

/ ˈtɪtjʊlərɪ, ˈtɪtjʊlə /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or of the nature of a title

2. in name only

3. bearing a title

4. giving a title

5. RC Church designating any of certain churches in Rome to whom cardinals or bishops are attached as their nominal incumbents

noun

1. the bearer of a title

2. the bearer of a nominal office

Other Word Forms

• titularity noun
• titularly adverb
• multititular adjective
• nontitular adjective
• nontitularly adverb
• untitular adjective
• untitularly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of titular¹

1585–95; < Latin titul ( us ) title + -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of titular¹

C18: from French titulaire, from Latin titulus _title

Example Sentences

In “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” she invites us to spend a day at the titular salon on a hot summer day in 2019.

From Los Angeles Times

The Birmingham-born Hustle star portrays the titular character Cyrano – a romantic poet with crippling self-consciousness caused by his distinctive nose, which takes make-up artists 40 minutes to attach to Lester's face.

From BBC

The five episodes leading up to the second season’s huge reveal revolve around John Cena’s titular hero, also known as Christopher Smith, stumbling through a world that looks exactly like ours — but better.

From Salon

Chastain, who won an Oscar for her role as a televangelist in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, plays a suburban mom known as the titular Savant in the series.

From BBC

After the montage ends, Sydney makes her final stop on her food tour at Margie’s Candies where she eats the episode’s titular dessert, a sundae.

From Salon

Related Words

• nominal