Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

titular

American  
[tich-uh-ler, tit-yuh-] / ˈtɪtʃ ə lər, ˈtɪt yə- /

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 British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the bearer of a title

  2. the bearer of a nominal office

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of titular

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

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.

Fun lie: The titular characters in the 1997 comedy movie “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” claimed they invented the office staple to impress their former classmates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

McLaughlin will star as the titular wizard opposite Stanton as Hermione Granger and Stout as Ron Weasley.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Animated Australian sensation “Bluey” has arrived in Disneyland, and the titular anthropomorphic pastel-coated canine has come ready to play.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

It seems as though I’m entirely unsure of who is sparking the titular reminders of this saccharine, ridiculous, and oh-so-delightful melodrama.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

Oceania has no capital, and its titular head is a person whose whereabouts nobody knows.

From "1984" by George Orwell

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.