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topic

noun
top·​ic | \ ˈtä-pik How to pronounce topic (audio) \

Definition of topic

1a : the subject of a discourse or of a section of a discourse
b : a heading in an outlined argument or exposition
2a : argument, reason
b : one of the general forms of argument employed in probable reasoning
Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about topic

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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

 In May, Nibert took a sabbatical to write a book about these very topics. — Keith Bierygolick, Cincinnati.com, "Save the lambs: ‘Most hated man in Yellow Springs’ fights to keep Ohio college from killing animals," 28 Aug. 2019 Philosophers, who contemplate these topics for a living, should welcome any interest in their work from organizations that are set on shaping humanity’s future. — Alexis Papazoglou, WIRED, "Silicon Valley's Secret Philosophers Should Share Their Work," 27 Aug. 2019 Sociologists don’t study this stuff, because sociology now is so politically valenced that these topics just don’t get looked at. — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, "A Penn Law Professor Wants to Make America White Again," 23 Aug. 2019 These topics have been of paramount importance to democratic representation since, at least, the founding of the U.S. — Jeffrey W Ladewig, The Conversation, "Trump’s fight to count US citizens and non-citizens: 5 questions answered," 8 Aug. 2019 Without even realizing it, Generation Z's viewpoints on these topics have been shaped by their Generation X parents, who came of age amid a series of crises: Watergate, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Challenger explosion, Rodney King. — Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, "Understanding Gen Z this back-to-school through lens of their Gen X parents," 30 July 2019 Trick Mirror revisits, at greater length, a number of these topics (each essay is about 35 pages). — Hannah Rosefield, The New Republic, "The Voice of a Microgeneration," 30 July 2019 Any questions on these topics should therefore be directed to the FBI or the Justice Department. — NBC News, "Full transcript: Mueller testimony before House Judiciary, Intelligence committees," 25 July 2019 Any questions on these topics should therefore be directed to the FBI or the Justice Department. — William Cummings, USA TODAY, "Robert Mueller testimony: Read the full text of ex-special counsel's opening statement to Congress," 24 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'topic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of topic

circa 1569, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

History and Etymology for topic

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

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More Definitions for topic

topic

noun
How to pronounce topic (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of topic

: someone or something that people talk or write about

See the full definition for topic in the English Language Learners Dictionary

topic

noun
top·​ic | \ ˈtä-pik How to pronounce topic (audio) \

Kids Definition of topic

: the subject of something that is being discussed or has been written or thought about She didn't like talking about it and tried to change the topic.

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More from Merriam-Webster on topic

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with topic

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for topic

Spanish Central: Translation of topic

Nglish: Translation of topic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of topic for Arabic Speakers

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