subject matter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-HighFormal to Neutral; commonly used in academic, professional, and artistic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “subject matter” mean?
The topic, theme, or specific content dealt with in a piece of writing, a discussion, a work of art, or an academic field.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The topic, theme, or specific content dealt with in a piece of writing, a discussion, a work of art, or an academic field.
The material or substance that forms the basis of a particular study, creation, or consideration, often implying its inherent nature or quality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Minor differences may arise in surrounding vocabulary (e.g., 'course subject matter' vs. 'class subject matter').
Connotations
Neutral in both, though can sound slightly more formal in everyday British English.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in US academic and legal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “subject matter” in a Sentence
The subject matter of [NOUN PHRASE][ADJECTIVE] subject matterto deal with/handle [DETERMINER] subject matterVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “subject matter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The film's director chose to subject matter that was controversial.
- The committee will subject the matter to further review.
American English
- The author subjects the matter to intense scrutiny.
- We cannot subject this matter to public debate yet.
adjective
British English
- She is a subject-matter expert in maritime law.
- The course requires subject-matter knowledge.
American English
- He was hired as a subject-matter expert.
- The training provides subject-matter proficiency.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Referring to the content of a report, meeting, or proposal (e.g., 'The subject matter of the merger talks was highly confidential').
Academic
Describing the content of a course, thesis, or field of study (e.g., 'The subject matter of her PhD is medieval philosophy').
Everyday
Discussing the topic of a film, book, or conversation (e.g., 'I found the subject matter of that documentary quite distressing').
Technical
In law, referring to the issues pertinent to a case or jurisdiction (e.g., 'subject-matter jurisdiction').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “subject matter”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'different subject matters' is less common; prefer 'areas of subject matter'). Confusing with 'subject' alone, which can also mean a person or a field of study.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is written as two separate words: 'subject matter'. The hyphenated form 'subject-matter' is used only when it functions as a compound adjective (e.g., subject-matter expert).
It is generally treated as an uncountable noun. While 'subject matters' is occasionally seen, it is less common. It's often better to rephrase (e.g., 'different areas of subject matter' or 'various subjects').
'Subject' is broader and can refer to a field of study (e.g., Mathematics is my favourite subject) or a topic. 'Subject matter' is more specific and refers to the actual content, material, or substance within that topic or field.
It is neutral but leans towards formal. It is perfectly at home in academic, legal, and professional writing. In casual conversation, people might simply say 'topic' or 'what it's about'.
The topic, theme, or specific content dealt with in a piece of writing, a discussion, a work of art, or an academic field.
Subject matter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt ˌmætə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt ˌmætər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Get to the heart of the subject matter”
- “The subject matter at hand”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a school SUBJECT and the MATTER (stuff) it contains. The 'subject matter' is the 'stuff of the subject'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUBJECT MATTER IS MATERIAL/SUBSTANCE (e.g., 'dense subject matter', 'raw subject matter').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST accurate synonym for 'subject matter' in an academic context?