Title - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT title /ˈtaɪdl/ /ˈtaɪtəl/ IPA guide

Other forms: titles; titled; titling

A title is typically the official part of your name, placed at the beginning to signify a certain status or function. So, do you prefer "Mr.," "Mrs.," "Dr." or "Ms"? Or perhaps you just go by "Grand Pooh-bah"?

There seem to be as many ways to use the word title as there are titles on a library shelf — because a title is also what you call a book or song or work of art. Titles are even given to statutes and acts of legislature. When you buy a car, you get a title, which is a piece of paper certifying your ownership. And when your favorite team wins the championship? You often say they won the title — and the right to brag.

Definitions of title

noun the name of a work of art or literary composition etc. “he looked for books with the word `jazz' in the title” “he refused to give titles to his paintings” “I can never remember movie titles” see moresee less types: masthead the title of a newspaper or magazine; usually printed on the front page and on the editorial page rubric a title or heading that is printed in red or in a special type type of: name a language unit by which a person or thing is known
noun a general or descriptive heading for a section of a written work “the novel had chapter titles” see moresee less types: credit an entry on a list of persons who contributed to a film or written work caption, legend brief description accompanying an illustration subtitle secondary or explanatory title type of: subhead, subheading a heading of a subdivision of a text
noun a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with “Title 8 provided federal help for schools” synonyms: rubric, statute title see moresee less type of: head, header, heading a line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about
verb give a title to synonyms: entitle see moresee less types: proclaim declare formally; declare someone to be something; of titles type of: call, name assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
verb designate by an identifying term synonyms: style see moresee less type of: call, name assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
noun an identifying appellation signifying status or function: e.g. `Mr.' or `General' “the professor didn't like his friends to use his formal title” synonyms: form of address, title of respect see moresee less types: show 21 types... hide 21 types... Aga, Agha title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey) Defender of the Faith a title that Leo X bestowed on Henry VIII and later withdrew; parliament restored the title and it has been used by English sovereigns ever since Don a Spanish courtesy title or form of address for men that is prefixed to the forename Dona a Spanish courtesy title or form of address for a woman Frau a German courtesy title or form of address for an adult woman Fraulein a German courtesy title or form of address for an unmarried woman Hakham a Hebrew title of respect for a wise and highly educated man Herr a German courtesy title or form of address for a man Miss a form of address for an unmarried woman Mister, Mr, Mr. a form of address for a man Mrs, Mrs. a form of address for a married woman Ms, Ms. a form of address for a woman Rabbi a Hebrew title of respect for a Jewish scholar or teacher Reverend a title of respect for a clergyman Senor a Spanish title or form of address for a man; similar to the English `Mr' or `sir' Senora a Spanish title or form of address for a married woman; similar to the English `Mrs' or `madam' Senorita a Spanish title or form of address used to or of an unmarried girl or woman; similar to the English `Miss' Signora an Italian title or form of address for a married woman Signorina an Italian title or form of address for an unmarried woman Very Reverend a title of respect for various ecclesiastical officials (as cathedral deans and canons and others) Father, Padre `Father' is a term of address for priests in some churches (especially the Roman Catholic Church or the Orthodox Catholic Church); `Padre' is frequently used in the military type of: appellation, appellative, denomination, designation identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others
noun an appellation signifying nobility “`your majesty' is the appropriate title to use in addressing a king” see moresee less types: show 4 types... hide 4 types... Lordship a title used to address any British peer except a duke and extended to a bishop or a judge Ladyship a title used to address any peeress except a duchess baronetcy the title of a baron viscountcy the title of a viscount type of: appellation, appellative, denomination, designation identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others
noun an established or recognized right “he had no documents confirming his title to his father's estate” synonyms: claim see moresee less types: own right by title vested in yourself or by virtue of qualifications that you have achieved entitlement right granted by law or contract (especially a right to benefits) type of: legal right a right based in law
noun an informal right to something “his title to fame” synonyms: claim see moresee less type of: right an abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature
noun a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it “he kept the title to his car in the glove compartment” synonyms: deed, deed of conveyance see moresee less types: show 6 types... hide 6 types... bill of sale a deed transferring personal property deed poll a deed made and executed by only one party enfeoffment under the feudal system, the deed by which a person was given land in exchange for a pledge of service mortgage deed deed embodying a mortgage title deed a legal document proving a person's right to property muniments deeds and other documentary evidence of title to land type of: instrument, legal document, legal instrument, official document (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right
noun the status of being a champion “he held the title for two years” synonyms: championship see moresee less types: triple crown (baseball) an unofficial title won by a batter who leads the league in hitting average, runs batted in, and home runs triple crown (horse racing) a title won by a horse that can win the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness type of: high status a position of superior status
noun (usually plural) written material introduced into a movie or TV show to give credits or represent dialogue or explain an action “the titles go by faster than I can read” see moresee less type of: piece of writing, writing, written material the work of a writer; anything expressed in letters of the alphabet (especially when considered from the point of view of style and effect)

Pronunciation US /ˈtaɪdl/ UK /ˈtaɪtəl/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘title'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Commonly confused words

entitle / title

To entitle means to give someone a rank or right, like if your perfect attendance entitles you to free ice cream at lunch. A title is the name of something, like the title of a song you wrote about ice cream.

Word Family

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