Subheadline

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A smaller, secondary headline that usually elaborates on the main headline above it.

    "The March 5, 1978 issue of National Reader […] contained an exciting front page headline — "Most Major Hollywood Stars Are Gay or Bisexual!!!!" Splashed on the cover are photos of Rock Hudson, Shaun and David Cassidy, […] and, last but not least, Lily Tomlin. In the top right hand corner is the subheadline — "Finally Shocking Truth Can Be Told!""

Example

More examples

"The March 5, 1978 issue of National Reader […] contained an exciting front page headline — "Most Major Hollywood Stars Are Gay or Bisexual!!!!" Splashed on the cover are photos of Rock Hudson, Shaun and David Cassidy, […] and, last but not least, Lily Tomlin. In the top right hand corner is the subheadline — "Finally Shocking Truth Can Be Told!""

Etymology

From sub- + headline.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.