titular
Americanadjective
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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.
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from whom or which a title or name is taken.
His titular Saint is Michael.
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of, relating to, or of the nature of a title.
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having a title, especially of rank.
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designating any of the Roman Catholic churches in Rome whose nominal incumbents are cardinals.
adjective
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of, relating to, or of the nature of a title
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in name only
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bearing a title
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giving a title
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RC Church designating any of certain churches in Rome to whom cardinals or bishops are attached as their nominal incumbents
noun
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the bearer of a title
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the bearer of a nominal office
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of titular
Explanation
You might say you’re the boss man in your household, but if everybody else in the family ignores you, 'boss man' is probably a titular position for you. In other words, it’s just a title. There’s no power behind it. We get titular from the Latin word titulus, meaning "title." Nowadays, it means that you hold an official title but don’t have any power or responsibility along with it. The Queen of England is a titular head of state. She doesn’t actually govern. A titular director doesn’t direct. Titular can also mean referencing the title. If you're playing the role of Dave in the play All About Dave, you're playing the titular role.
Vocabulary lists containing titular
This Week In Culture: March 29–April 4, 2020
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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.
Titular star Baker had been travelling back from the show's exhibition in Blackpool with BBC manager Terry Sampson when the pair were delayed by fog.
From BBC • Dec. 24, 2023
In 1971, he owned Titular II, who seemed certain to win the Mile before breaking stride when catching a glimpse of the starting gate in the infield and was passed near the wire.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 13, 2021
Titular ruler of the U. S. toy world is William Charles Lehman, big, jovial, redheaded president of Toy Manufacturers of the U.S.A.,
From Time Magazine Archive
Young Father Mundelein assumed increasing responsibility and received, about every twelve months, a raise in rank, until finally the Pope made him Titular Bishop of an obscure church at Rome.
From Time Magazine Archive
About two months after those Saxe-Friedrich hospitalities at Sans-Souci, Voltaire, writing, late at night, from the hospitable Palace of Titular Stanislaus, has these words, to his trusted D'Argental:— LUNEVILLE, 4th SEPTEMBER, 1749....
From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 16 by Carlyle, Thomas
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.
