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

In Peacock’s thriller series, Eddie Redmayne is the titular assassin being chased by Bianca, a British intelligence officer played by Lashana Lynch.

From Los Angeles Times

The producers immediately looked to Redmayne to play the titular Jackal, a scrupulous British long-range assassin with an enigmatic quality.

From Los Angeles Times

She’s had roles including the Czech songwriter in the Broadway musical “Once,” the titular “mother” on “How I Met Your Mother,” the writer with a “sexy baby” voice on an infamous episode of “30 Rock” and the wedding guest stuck in a time loop in the rom-com “Palm Springs.”

From Los Angeles Times

In Candyman, Todd's titular character is the ghost of artist Daniel Robitaille, a black man who was lynched in the 19th Century.

From BBC

He designed the wardrobe for the lawyer-turned-investigator, from Preston’s first appearance on “The Good Wife” in 2010 through spinoff “The Good Fight” and now in the character’s titular turn.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• nominal