subject
subject Lexical Profile
subject Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person, thing, or topic that is being discussed, described, or dealt with.
"The author's latest book tackles the complex subject of climate migration."
A branch of knowledge studied or taught in a school, college, or university.
"Mathematics was always her favorite subject in high school."
A person or organism that is the focus of a scientific study, clinical trial, or psychological experiment.
"Each subject in the sleep study was monitored overnight by researchers."
In grammar, a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun that performs the action of the verb or about which something is stated in a clause.
"In the sentence 'The bird sang,' 'the bird' is the grammatical subject."
A member of a state other than its supreme ruler, especially one owing allegiance to a monarch or sovereign government.
"The queen addressed her loyal subjects during the golden jubilee."
• adjective
Likely or prone to be affected by a particular condition, occurrence, or contingency (usually followed by 'to').
"Train schedules are subject to change during severe winter weather."
Dependent or conditional upon something happening first (usually followed by 'to').
"The merger is subject to approval by federal regulatory authorities."
Under the political authority, control, or dominion of another state or ruler.
"The empire imposed heavy taxes on its subject provinces."
• verb
To cause or force someone or something to undergo a particular experience, treatment, or test.
"Engineers subject the aircraft components to extreme temperatures before approving them."
To bring a person, group, or nation under one's political control, rule, or dominion.
"The ancient empire sought to subject the neighboring kingdoms to its rule."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word 'subject' is a heteronym: as a noun or adjective, the stress falls on the first syllable (SUB-ject), whereas as a verb, the stress shifts to the second syllable (sub-JECT).
• Rhymes for subject
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'suget', borrowed from Old French and directly from Latin 'subiectus', the past participle of 'subicere' ('to throw under, place under, or subordinate'), formed from 'sub-' ('under') and 'iacere' ('to throw').