titular

[ tich-uh-ler, tit-yuh- ]

adjective

1. existing or being such in title only; nominal; having the title but none of the associated duties, powers, etc.:

   the titular head of the company.

2. from whom or which a title or name is taken:

   His titular Saint is Michael.

3. of, relating to, or of the nature of a title.
4. having a title, especially of rank.
5. designating any of the Roman Catholic churches in Rome whose nominal incumbents are cardinals.

noun

1. a person who bears a title.
2. a person from whom or thing from which a title or name is taken.
3. Ecclesiastical. a person entitled to a benefice but not required to perform its duties.

titular

/ ˈtɪtjʊlərɪ; ˈtɪtjʊlə /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or of the nature of a title
2. in name only
3. bearing a title
4. giving a title
5. RC Church designating any of certain churches in Rome to whom cardinals or bishops are attached as their nominal incumbents

noun

1. the bearer of a title
2. the bearer of a nominal office

Derived Forms

• ˈtitularly, adverb

Other Words From

• tit·u·lar·i·ty [tich-, uh, -, lar, -i-tee, tit-y, uh, -], noun
• titu·lar·ly adverb
• multi·titu·lar adjective
• non·titu·lar adjective
• non·titu·lar·ly adverb
• un·titu·lar adjective
• un·titu·lar·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of titular¹

1585–95; < Latin titul ( us ) title + -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of titular¹

C18: from French titulaire, from Latin titulus title

Example Sentences

Chicago’s Cabrini-Green housing project, where our heroes encounter the titular killer at the center of the story, is a real place with a long and controversial history.

From Vox

In the show, titular character Midge Maisel serves her brisket in a Pink Daisy Pyrex casserole dish, the same favored by Joan in Mad Men, sparking renewed interest in one of the earliest Pyrex prints.

From Eater

In this case, it’s the titular “survivorman,” Canadian filmmaker and survival expert Les Stroud.

From Outside Online

The media company’s titular studio, which has produced unscripted fare like Netflix’s “Explained” series, has followed suit into scripted after Vox Media acquired New York Magazine in November 2019.

From Digiday

Her big break arrived when she was cast as the titular lead in the Disney sitcom “Sonny With a Chance” and as aspiring singer Mitchie Torres in “Camp Rock.”

From Washington Post

In 2002, the episode “Blame It on Lisa” took the titular family to Brazil.

From The Daily Beast

George Soros, also 83, is titular chairman of Soros Fund Management.

From The Daily Beast

For example, Mehmet Oz, the host of his titular show Dr Oz, already has an “effect” named after him.

From The Daily Beast

Ian McKellen took on the titular role in the 1995 film version of Richard III.

From The Daily Beast

Laurence Fishburne is the titular character in the 1995 film of Othello.

From The Daily Beast

Anthony, titular king of Portugal, died at Paris, a fugitive from the victorious arms of the Spaniards.

From Project Gutenberg

Janet Marward, heiress and titular baroness of Skryne in Meath, a manor worth some 200l.

From Project Gutenberg

About the same time, too, the nation was deprived of its titular leader by the death of Polus Mar Shimun, their patriarch.

From Project Gutenberg

Edmund, the king and martyr, to whose memory the 20th of November is sacred, was the last titular of the East Angles.

From Project Gutenberg

Rionga passed his hours in native excesses, in the joy of receiving the titular rank of Vakil to the Khedive.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• nominal