subject matter

noun

: matter presented for consideration in discussion, thought, or study

Examples of subject matter in a Sentence

I found the film's subject matter to be quite disturbing. She disapproves of the artist's choice of subject matter.
Recent Examples on the Web Lomax was a trusted source of news, no matter the subject matter. Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2024 Borrowing from social-science research methods, Kerr, Banas and their colleagues based their study on daily interviews with patients in the 22-bed inpatient unit at the Hospice campus in the hope of capturing the frequency and varied subject matter of their visions. Phoebe Zerwick, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 The sets by David Rockwell alternate between Aloysius’s office and a church courtyard, and when combined with Linda Cho’s costumes, Kenneth Posner’s lighting, and the subject matter itself, everything feels dark and grey — like a permanent cloud hovering overhead. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024 Specifically, this modern, employee-first HR operation must entail the multifamily office advisor and all subject matter expert partners working together to help foster the kind of professional environment that has proven to be more profitable and productive over time. Evan Jehle, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The furious sound of Moctar’s band, for him, is intended in part to reflect the urgency of the subject matter. Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2024 For example, if a town is speaking about school curriculum and invites public comments, as long as the comments tie back to the subject matter at hand, towns wouldn’t really be able to limit any hate comments being shared. Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2024 The discipline sections vary slightly, with ISC placing a greater emphasis on MCQs (60%) compared to TBSs (40%), reflecting the nature of the subject matter. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 Though Ferrera only stuck around for four episodes, her performance as Natalie Flores, an undocumented immigrant, is a standout not only because of the important subject matter but also for her clear dedication and care regarding the character. Kelly Martinez, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subject matter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subject matter was in 1657

Dictionary Entries Near subject matter

Cite this Entry

“Subject matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subject%20matter. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

subject matter

noun
: matter presented for consideration in discussion, thought, or study
the poem's subject matter

More from Merriam-Webster on subject matter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!