titular meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

titular

adj

UK /ˈtɪtjʊlə/ · US /ˈtɪt͡ʃəlɚ/

Etymology Borrowed from Middle French titulaire, from Latin titulāris, from titulus (“title”).

Of, relating to, being, derived from, or having a title.

Existing in name only; nominal.

If these magnific titles yet remain / Not merely titular.1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

Named or referred to in the title.

Macbeth is a titular character.
That story begins in rural Wyoming in 1963, when drifters Ennis and Jack are hired by a local rancher to herd sheep through grazing ground on the titular Brokeback Mountain.2025 June 20, Nick Levine, “'In every theatre, people would leave': How 'gay cowboy movie' Brokeback Mountain challenged Hollywood – and the US”, in BBC, archived from the original on 02 Oct 2025:

Derived terms: cotitular, intertitular, multititular, nontitular, subtitular, titular bishop, titular church, titularity, titularize, titularly, titular see, unititular, untitular

noun

Etymology Borrowed from Middle French titulaire, from Latin titulāris, from titulus (“title”).

One who holds a title.

The person from whom a church takes its special name; distinguished from a patron, who must be canonized or an angel.