title

1 of 3

noun

ti·​tle ˈtī-tᵊl 

1

a

: the distinguishing name of a written, printed, or filmed production

b

: a similar distinguishing name of a musical composition or a work of art

2

: a usually published work as distinguished from a particular copy

published 25 new titles

3

: a descriptive name : appellation

4

a

: an appellation of dignity, honor, distinction, or preeminence attached to a person or family by virtue of rank, office, precedent, privilege, attainment, or lands

b

: a person holding a title especially of nobility

5

: championship sense 1

6

a

: a legally just cause of exclusive possession

b

: the instrument (such as a deed) that is evidence of a right

c

: all the elements constituting legal ownership

7

a

: a descriptive or general heading (as of a chapter in a book)

b

: the heading which names an act or statute

c

: the heading of a legal action or proceeding

8

: a division of an instrument, book, or bill

especially : one larger than a section or article

9

a

: something that justifies or substantiates a claim

b

: an alleged or recognized right

10

a

: written material introduced into a movie or television program to give credits, explain an action, or represent dialogue

—usually used in plural

b

obsolete : inscription

title

2 of 3

verb

titled; titling

ˈtīt-liŋ,

ˈtī-tᵊl-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to provide a title for

2

: to designate or call by a title : term, style

title

3 of 3

adjective

: of or relating to a title: such as

a

: having the same name as the title of a production

did the title role in Hamlet

b

: having the same title as or providing the title for the collection or production of which it forms a part

the title song

c

: of, relating to, or involving a championship

a title match

d

: of, relating to, or used with the titles that introduce a movie or television program

title music

Synonyms

Noun

• appellation
• appellative
• cognomen
• compellation
• denomination
• denotation
• designation
• handle
• moniker
• monicker
• name
• nomenclature

Verb

• baptize
• call
• christen
• clepe [archaic]
• denominate
• designate
• dub
• entitle
• label
• name
• nominate
• style
• term

Examples of title in a Sentence

Noun

What was the title of that book you were reading last week?

The title of the first chapter is “Getting Started.”

The company published 25 new titles last year.

This is one of our best-selling titles.

Her title is Vice President of Marketing.

He has an impressive job title.

Verb

She titled the book The Story of My Life.

a movie titled Gone With the Wind

Adjective

the title song on the CD

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That particular match is an important game in hand Madrid has over FC Barcelona, which lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid on Saturday and can fall behind in the title race by as many as five or six points in the near future. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024

This is a true win-now move and pushes Dallas closer to being legitimate title contenders again this season. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 22 Dec. 2024

Verb

After wrapping his 12-season run as Leonard Hofstadter on The Big Bang Theory in 2019, the actor has been working on producing a Christmas Vacation spinoff series titled The Griswolds for HBO Max, though no release date has been set yet. —Lydia Price, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024

Wait, Neil Young has some strange-looking record titled Tonight’s the Night? —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2024

Adjective

The answer to the mystery of the movie’s success lies in its pre-title sequence, as little possessed David cowers in a bathtub. —Jo Livingstone, The New Republic, 22 June 2021

The crash tragedy wasn’t the Bulldogs’ only post-title incident. —Andrew Beaton, WSJ, 1 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin titulus inscription, title

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 10b

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1600, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing title

• abstract of title
• courtesy title
• half title
• rejoice in the name/title of
• running title
• title character
• title deed
• title insurance
• title page
• title track

Kids Definition

title

1 of 2 noun

ti·​tle ˈtīt-ᵊl 

1

a

: a legal right to the ownership of property

b

: the document that is evidence of a right

2

: the name given to something (as a book, song, or job) to identify or describe it

3

: a word or group of words attached to a person's name to show honor, rank, or office

4

: championship sense 2

won the batting title

title

2 of 2 verb

titled; titling ˈtīt-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

: to call by a title

Legal Definition

title

noun

ti·​tle

1

a

: the means or right by which one owns or possesses property

broadly : the quality of ownership as determined by a body of facts and events

— after-acquired title

: title that vests automatically in a grantee when acquired by a grantor who purported to sell the property before acquiring title

also : a doctrine that requires such vesting compare estoppel by deed at estoppel sense 1

Note: The doctrine of after-acquired title generally does not apply when the grantor receives title by quitclaim deed; to vest title in the grantee the deed must include words expressing such an intention.

— clear title

: title that exists free of claims or encumbrances on the property

had clear title to the farm

broadly : marketable title in this entry

— equitable title

: title vested in one who is considered by the application of equitable principles to be the owner of property even though legal title is vested in another

the purchaser under a contract for sale had equitable title to and an insurable interest in the property

specifically : the right to receive legal title upon performance of an obligation

— good title

: title to property (as a negotiable instrument or real property) that is valid in fact or law or beyond a reasonable doubt

a holder in due course acquires good title to the item

especially : marketable title in this entry

— Indian title

: title held by American Indians that consists of the right to occupy certain land with the permission of the United States government

appears to be no question that Congress may limit or extinguish Indian title, and any rights appurtenant to the title, without obtaining the consent of the Indian peoples

—In re Rights to Use Water in Big Horn River Sys., 753 P.2d 76 (1988)

compare reservation

— just title

in the civil law of Louisiana : a juridical act (as a sale or donation) sufficient to transfer ownership or a real right

also : the title that derives from such an act

have a just title

Note: For the purposes of acquisitive prescription, the requirement of just title is satisfied by an act that would have been sufficient to transfer ownership if it had been executed by the true owner.

— legal title

: title that is determined or recognized as constituting formal or valid ownership (as by virtue of an instrument) even if not accompanied by possession or use

the trustee held legal title to the property

compare legal interest at interest sense 1

— lucrative title \ ˈlü-​krə-​tiv-​ \

: title to property acquired by gift, succession, or inheritance

the property acquired by lucrative title remained the separate property of the spouse

— marketable title

: title that is subject to no reasonable doubt as to its validity or freedom from encumbrance and that can be reasonably sold, purchased, or mortgaged

seller warrants that seller has marketable title to the property

specifically : title of such quality that a purchaser under contract should be compelled to accept it

called also merchantable title

Note: Clear title and good title are commonly used to indicate marketable title.

— onerous title

in the civil law of Louisiana : title that depends on the giving of consideration for the property

: title to property that is acquired through the labor or skill of a spouse and is included in community property

— paper title

: title shown on a document

had an equitable interest in the property though paper title was held by her husband

— paramount title \ ˈpar-​ə-​ˌmau̇nt-​ \

: title that renders inferior any other title to the property

warranted that the purchaser would have quiet enjoyment free from disturbance by one holding paramount title

— particular title

in the civil law of Louisiana : title by which one possesses or owns particular property received (as by purchase, gift, or legacy) before or after the death of an ancestor

a successor by particular title does not continue the possession of his ancestor

—A. N. Yiannopoulos

see also particular legacy at legacy compare universal title in this entry

— record title

: title shown on the public record

— tax title

: title obtained by the purchaser of property at a tax sale

also : title held by a governmental body to property seized because of tax delinquency

— universal title

: title acquired by the conveyance causa mortis of a specified proportion (as one-fourth) of all of the conveyor's property interests or all of a specified type of the conveyor's property interests especially so that upon the conveyor's death the recipient stands as a universal successor

was a legatee under universal title

b

: an instrument (as a deed) that is evidence of ownership

c

: certificate of title sense 1a

paid tax and title fees

2

a

: the name or heading of something (as a proceeding, statute, or book)

b

often capitalized : a division of a statutory or regulatory code or of an act

Title IX

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, inscription, legal right, from Old French, from Latin titulum inscription, chapter heading, part of the law that sanctions an action