subhead: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal / Technical (Journalism, Publishing, Business)
Quick answer
What does “subhead” mean?
A secondary or subordinate heading or title in a document, article, or other text, used to organize content under a main heading.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A secondary or subordinate heading or title in a document, article, or other text, used to organize content under a main heading.
In publishing and journalism, a subhead can also refer to a brief summary or explanatory line of text following a main headline. In organizational contexts, it can denote a subordinate leader or department head.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. The compound form 'subhead' is standard in both, though 'sub-head' with a hyphen is an acceptable but less common variant, slightly more frequent in UK publishing style guides.
Connotations
Identical connotations of hierarchy and organization.
Frequency
More frequent in professional contexts (editing, publishing, corporate reporting) than in everyday conversation in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “subhead” in a Sentence
[article/possessive] + subhead + [verb e.g., appears, summarizes]subhead + [prepositional phrase e.g., of the chapter, for this section]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “subhead” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The editor asked me to subhead the third section.
- The article needs to be properly subheaded for clarity.
American English
- She'll subhead each chapter to improve flow.
- We subheaded the report to highlight key findings.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- The subhead text should be in a smaller font.
- Please check the subhead formatting in the template.
American English
- Use the subhead style from the stylesheet.
- The subhead level is controlled by the CSS.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports and presentations to denote sections under main agenda points.
Academic
Used in theses, papers, and textbooks to structure chapters and sections.
Everyday
Rare in casual speech. Might be used when discussing document formatting.
Technical
Core term in publishing, journalism, web design (HTML tags like <h2>, <h3>), and typesetting.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “subhead”
- Using 'subhead' to refer to a person's deputy (this is 'subordinate' or 'deputy head').
- Misspelling as 'subheader' (acceptable in computing but 'subhead' is standard in publishing).
- Using it as a verb (to subhead is not standard; use 'to subtitle' or 'to add a subheading').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are synonyms and can be used interchangeably in most contexts, though 'subheading' is sometimes perceived as slightly more formal.
No, not in standard usage. It refers to a text element. For a person who is second-in-command, terms like 'deputy head', 'vice president', or 'subordinate' are used.
In theory, many, but style guides (like APA, Chicago) typically recommend a clear hierarchy up to 4 or 5 levels (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.).
To organize content visually and conceptually, making a document easier to scan, understand, and navigate by signaling the start of new subtopics or sections.
A secondary or subordinate heading or title in a document, article, or other text, used to organize content under a main heading.
Subhead is usually formal / technical (journalism, publishing, business) in register.
Subhead: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌb.hɛd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌb.hɛd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a **SUB**marine: it operates UNDER the main ship. A SUBhead operates UNDER the main heading.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIERARCHY IS VERTICAL SPACE (the subhead is 'below' the head). ORGANIZATION IS STRUCTURE (a subhead is a building block of a document).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'subhead' LEAST likely to be used?