topic

[top-ik]

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.

topic

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of topic¹

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-

Word History and Origins

Origin of topic¹

C16: from Latin topica translating Greek ta topika, literally: matters relating to commonplaces, title of a treatise by Aristotle, from topoi, pl of topos place, commonplace

Synonym Study

See subject.

Example Sentences

The nation's presence in women's football remains a controversial topic.

From BBC

On topics like abortion rights, federal regulatory authority and the consideration of race in college admissions, the court has reversed decades of existing precedent.

From BBC

She said, though, there was an argument for reducing the amount of topics students had to learn in A-levels.

From BBC

“I somehow doubt this is the last instance we’re going to see where censorship and free speech are going to be a topic.”

From Los Angeles Times

"People here don't care about those topics," she said.

From BBC

Related Words

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