standfirst: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical (Journalism/Publishing)
Quick answer
What does “standfirst” mean?
A brief introductory summary or teaser text that appears before the main body of a newspaper or magazine article.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A brief introductory summary or teaser text that appears before the main body of a newspaper or magazine article.
In journalism and publishing, a standfirst serves to hook the reader, provide context, and summarize the key points of the article that follows. It is a subheading that elaborates on the main headline.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both British and American publishing, but is more commonly encountered and formally defined in British style guides. American equivalents might include 'deck', 'dek', or 'lead-in'.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes professional journalism and editorial design. No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK publishing jargon; in the US, alternative terms like 'deck' are often preferred.
Grammar
How to Use “standfirst” in a Sentence
The standfirst [verb: summarizes, introduces, teases] the article.The editor asked me to [verb: write, shorten, revise] the standfirst.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “standfirst” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The feature needs to be standfirsted by the deputy editor.
- We haven't standfirsted that piece yet.
American English
- The copy editor will deck the article this afternoon.
- She's deking the front-page story.
adverb
British English
- The headline was placed standfirst.
adjective
British English
- The standfirst paragraph was too vague.
- We discussed the standfirst style guide.
American English
- The deck copy needs a stronger verb.
- He revised the lead-in text.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in corporate communications and PR when discussing press releases or published reports.
Academic
Rare; might appear in media studies or journalism courses.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core terminology in journalism, editing, publishing, and web content design.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “standfirst”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “standfirst”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “standfirst”
- Using it to refer to any subheading (it's specifically the first one after the headline).
- Confusing it with a 'pull quote' (which is extracted from the main text).
- Misspelling as 'stand first' (should be solid or hyphenated: standfirst/stand-first).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as one solid word (standfirst) in modern usage, though the hyphenated form 'stand-first' is also seen, especially in older style guides.
Yes, the term is widely used in digital journalism and online content management systems (CMS) for the introductory text snippet that often appears in search results and social media previews.
A standfirst is a specific type of subheading—it is the *first* subheading, directly following the main headline, and serves as a summary or introduction. Other subheads within the article simply break up the text.
There is no strict rule, but it is typically concise, ranging from one sentence to a short paragraph (often around 20-50 words). Its purpose is to inform and entice, not to give everything away.
A brief introductory summary or teaser text that appears before the main body of a newspaper or magazine article.
Standfirst is usually formal, technical (journalism/publishing) in register.
Standfirst: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstændfɜːst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstændfɜːrst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of text that STANDS FIRST after the headline. It stands out as the first block of text you read.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GATEWAY or PREVIEW (it opens the way into the main article).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a standfirst?