topic

American  

[top-ik] / ˈtɒp ɪk /

noun

1. a subject of conversation or discussion.

   to provide a topic for discussion.

2. the subject or theme of a discourse or of one of its parts.

   Synonyms:

   subject matter, thesis

3. Rhetoric, Logic. a general field of considerations from which arguments can be drawn.

4. Also called theme.  Linguistics. the part of a sentence that announces the item about which the rest of the sentence communicates information, often signaled by initial position in the sentence or by a grammatical marker.

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topic British  

/ ˈtɒpɪk /

noun

1. a subject or theme of a speech, essay, book, etc

2. a subject of conversation; item of discussion

3. (in rhetoric, logic, etc) a category or class of arguments or ideas which may be drawn on to furnish proofs

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Related Words

See subject.

Etymology

Origin of topic

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin topica (plural), from Greek (tà) topiká name of work by Aristotle (literally, “(things) pertaining to commonplaces),” equivalent to tóp(os) “commonplace” + -ika, neuter plural of -ikos -ic; topo-

Example Sentences

His earlier work on unusual deep quakes there helped inspire Wang to pursue the topic.

From Science Daily

Since we’re on the topic of lost dogs, I too know the pain of a missing pet.

From Salon

The book is the first to examine the topic at length and appears at an opportune moment.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Brundage has given us a sensitive and important study of a strangely neglected topic, whose implications reach far beyond the Civil War battlefields of a century and a half ago.

From The Wall Street Journal

Whether or not an increase in productivity from AI proves to be disinflationary has also been a popular topic among policymakers recently.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• affair
• argument
• business
• case
• field
• issue
• material
• matter
• point
• problem
• proposition
• question
• subject
• theme