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topic sentence

American  
Or topical sentence

noun

topic sentences plural
  1. a sentence that expresses the essential idea of a paragraph or larger section, usually appearing at the beginning.


topic sentence British  

noun

  1. a sentence in a paragraph that expresses the main idea or point of the whole paragraph

"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

topic sentence Cultural  
  1. The main sentence in a paragraph, often the first sentence. It briefly conveys the essential idea of the paragraph.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of topic sentence

First recorded in 1915–20

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.

But crafting a note like “A topic sentence should signal what the paragraph is about. Can you try reworking this sentence to reflect the paragraph?” is far more empowering.

From Scientific American • Jun. 15, 2023

In other words, make sure that each topic sentence ties back to your thesis.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

Does the topic sentence make a sensible point?

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

The evidence you provide develops the paragraph and supports the point made in the topic sentence.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

Frame a sentence which you think would be an adequate topic sentence for the whole piece.

From English: Composition and Literature by Webster, W. F. (William Franklin)

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