topic

noun

top·​ic ˈtä-pik How to pronounce topic (audio)
1
a
: the subject of a discourse or of a section of a discourse
b
: a heading in an outlined argument or exposition
2
b
: one of the general forms of argument employed in probable reasoning

Examples of topic in a Sentence

He is comfortable discussing a wide range of topics. topics such as health and fitness
Recent Examples on the Web Follow the Astronomy topic to see the latest stories in your personalized feed with your free account. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024 Here’s a look at when’s the best time to start, and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this topic. Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2024 Such propaganda campaigns work for a few weeks, but then the conversation around this topic on social media becomes negative, and the Kremlin tries to drive it up again. Peter Pomerantsev, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024 The true crime genre is undergoing a reckoning lately, and rightly so, but this three-part examination of how institutions fail victims represents what the genre can do when filmmakers cover their topics with care and empathy. Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2024 To reply to other posts, simply include ‘re:’ or ‘to’ the topic in the subject line of your post. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024 The latest numbers released by Texas officials in March show the state has now transported more than 105,000 migrants to sanctuary cities since 2022, and the topic was front-and-center at Thursday's event. Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024 Platforms like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning offer a wealth of online courses and certifications spanning diverse topics, enabling you to upskill and reskill at your own pace. Sonia Singh, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024 His research has been wide-ranging, covering topics such as early admissions at selective colleges, subprime lending and the impact of financial incentives on health and health care delivery. Stephanie Saul, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Latin Topica Topics (work by Aristotle), from Greek Topika, from topika, neuter plural of topikos of a place, of a topos, from topos place, topos

First Known Use

circa 1569, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Time Traveler
The first known use of topic was circa 1569

Dictionary Entries Near topic

Cite this Entry

“Topic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topic. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

topic

noun
top·​ic ˈtäp-ik How to pronounce topic (audio)
1
: a heading in an outline of a subject or explanation
2
: the subject or a section of a subject (as of a speech or a report)

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