topic

noun

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

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gino Filippone was at a dinner with seasoned real-estate brokers this spring when the obvious topic came up: the NAR settlement. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024 News of the death toll sent shock waves through Chinese social media, although the topic ranked only 11th on Weibo, China’s X-like platform, which is subject to strict internet censorship. —Peter Guo, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024 Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans. —Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 6 Nov. 2024 Only Congress has the power to completely ban fracking, but presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris see it as a topic that resonates with voters in the Keystone State. —Sean Keane, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for topic 

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

Phrases Containing topic

Dictionary Entries Near topic

topiary

topic

topical

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Topic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topic. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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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)

More from Merriam-Webster on topic

Nglish: Translation of topic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of topic for Arabic Speakers

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