tit·u·lar
ˈti-chə-lər 
ˈtich-lər
1
a
: having the title and usually the honors belonging to an office or dignity without the duties, functions, or responsibilities
the titular head of a political party
b
: existing in title only
especially
: bearing a title derived from a defunct ecclesiastical jurisdiction (such as an episcopal see)
a titular bishop
2
: of, relating to, or constituting a title
the titular hero of the play
3
: bearing a title : titled
titularly
adverb
: a person holding a title
Synonyms
Examples of titular in a Sentence
Adjective
Although retired, he remains the titular chairman of the company.
he's the titular head of the department, though it's the assistant managers who largely run things around here
Recent Examples on the Web
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2023
Taissa Farmiga and Bonnie Aarons return as Sister Irene and the titular Nun, respectively, with Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid and Anna Popplewell joining the franchise.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 9 Sep. 2023
His next big television gig looked notably different: Valderrama voiced the titular character on Disney's Handy Manny.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2023
Davis is a singer-actress-social media influencer who gained attention as the voice of the titular character in the Blumhouse horror hit, M3GAN, which made almost $180 million worldwide and now has a sequel in the works.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2023
Even more baffling, Gus’ childhood buds — i.e., the whole reason for the trip — are relegated to non-speaking extras at the end, while the titular nuptials this time are for a handsome young Greek local and a beautiful Syrian refugee who have a total of a dozen lines between them.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2023
Broadway lead Rob McClure will reprise his performance as the titular out-of-work actor on the national tour, directed by Jerry Zaks.
—Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2023
The titular Alan Wake is a novelist who isolated himself away in a small Northwestern town, only to find that the stories of his horror novel become true.
—Gene Park, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023
Based on the 1994 autobiographical book Long Walk to Freedom by anti-apartheid revolutionary and former South African President Nelson Mandela, Elba portrayed the titular character.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 6 Sep. 2023
Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 31 Jan. 2023
Ortega debuted in Wednesday as the titular Addams Family character after successful turns in horror movies like Scream and X, as well as on Netflix's romantic thriller series You.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 9 Dec. 2022
So observes Oscar Isaac’s titular musician in Inside Llewyn Davis, the Coen brothers’ cinematic ode to the genre.
—Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 20 Oct. 2022
Regardless, Billy Madison's Veronica Vaughn (Bridgette Wilson-Sampras) encourages all of her students, even the movie's titular, aforementioned man-child, played by Adam Sandler, and teaches him some life lessons along the way.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2022
As monarch, Elizabeth is also Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a titular, but deeply symbolic, role.
—Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2022
Almost four decades ago, This Is Spinal Tap confirmed the titular, and fictional, metal act's place in rock history as one of Britain's loudest bands.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 12 May 2022
Tokyo Vice and Miami Vice are both crime shows set in their respective titular locales, and both involve the creative input of famed filmmaker Michael Mann.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2022
Based on Martin Widmark’s popular children’s books of the same name, the film features rising star Matilda Gross as the titular Nelly, a young girl who, along with her dog London, are dragged into a world of ghosts, vampires and werewolves.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 17 Feb. 2022
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Adjective
The titular character, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is a wealthy man with no responsibilities who uses the sacred teachings of a yogi (Ben Kingsley) to learn how to see without his eyes.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2023
Taissa Farmiga and Bonnie Aarons return as Sister Irene and the titular Nun, respectively, with Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid and Anna Popplewell joining the franchise.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 9 Sep. 2023
His next big television gig looked notably different: Valderrama voiced the titular character on Disney's Handy Manny.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2023
Davis is a singer-actress-social media influencer who gained attention as the voice of the titular character in the Blumhouse horror hit, M3GAN, which made almost $180 million worldwide and now has a sequel in the works.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2023
Even more baffling, Gus’ childhood buds — i.e., the whole reason for the trip — are relegated to non-speaking extras at the end, while the titular nuptials this time are for a handsome young Greek local and a beautiful Syrian refugee who have a total of a dozen lines between them.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2023
Broadway lead Rob McClure will reprise his performance as the titular out-of-work actor on the national tour, directed by Jerry Zaks.
—Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2023
The titular Alan Wake is a novelist who isolated himself away in a small Northwestern town, only to find that the stories of his horror novel become true.
—Gene Park, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023
Based on the 1994 autobiographical book Long Walk to Freedom by anti-apartheid revolutionary and former South African President Nelson Mandela, Elba portrayed the titular character.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 6 Sep. 2023
Noun
Grey next appears as the titular (and controversial) church leader in Gwen Shamblin: Starving for Salvation, airing Saturday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. on Lifetime.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 31 Jan. 2023
Ortega debuted in Wednesday as the titular Addams Family character after successful turns in horror movies like Scream and X, as well as on Netflix's romantic thriller series You.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 9 Dec. 2022
So observes Oscar Isaac’s titular musician in Inside Llewyn Davis, the Coen brothers’ cinematic ode to the genre.
—Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 20 Oct. 2022
Regardless, Billy Madison's Veronica Vaughn (Bridgette Wilson-Sampras) encourages all of her students, even the movie's titular, aforementioned man-child, played by Adam Sandler, and teaches him some life lessons along the way.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2022
As monarch, Elizabeth is also Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a titular, but deeply symbolic, role.
—Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2022
Almost four decades ago, This Is Spinal Tap confirmed the titular, and fictional, metal act's place in rock history as one of Britain's loudest bands.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 12 May 2022
Tokyo Vice and Miami Vice are both crime shows set in their respective titular locales, and both involve the creative input of famed filmmaker Michael Mann.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2022
Based on Martin Widmark’s popular children’s books of the same name, the film features rising star Matilda Gross as the titular Nelly, a young girl who, along with her dog London, are dragged into a world of ghosts, vampires and werewolves.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 17 Feb. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'titular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near titular
Cite this Entry
“Titular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/titular. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
titular
adjective
tit·u·lar
ˈtich-(ə-)lər
: being something in title only : nominal
the titular head of state
titularly
adverb
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