Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Relating to, having the nature of, or constituting a title.
- adj. Existing in name only; nominal: the titular head of the family.
- adj. Bearing the title of a church or monastery that is no longer active.
- adj. Bearing a title: titular dignitaries.
- adj. Derived from a title: the titular role in a play.
- n. One who holds a title.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Of, pertaining to, or having a title, in any sense; existing in or by reason of title; so designated or entitled: as, titular rank, dignity, or rights; titular possession; a titular professor or incumbent of office (that is, one bearing the title, in distinction from an adjunct or a deputy).
- Existing in or having the title only; being such only in name; so-called; nominal; not actual: as, a titular sovereignty or bishopric; the line of titular kings of Jerusalem.
- Receiving the name (of), or used by name, as part of a title; giving or taking title. See quotation, and titular church, below.
- n. A person who holds a title of office, or a right of possession independently of the functions or obligations properly implied by it; in ecclesiastical law, one who may lawfully enjoy a benefice without perfowning its duties.
- n. One whose name is used as a title; specifically, the patron saint of a church.
Wiktionary
- adj. Of, relating to, being, derived from, or having a title.
- adj. Existing in name only; nominal.
- adj. Named or referred to in the title.
- n. One who holds a title.
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Existing in title or name only; nominal; having the title to an office or dignity without discharging its appropriate duties.
- n. A titulary.
WordNet 3.0
- adj. existing in name only
- adj. of or pertaining to the title of a work of art
- adj. of or relating to a legal title to something
- adj. of or bearing a title signifying status or function
- adj. of or associated with or bearing a title signifying nobility
Etymologies
- From Latin titulus, title.
Examples
“Based on a true 18th Century Japanese story, the film follows a band of samurai swordsmen who are shamed into becoming the titular ronin — a Japanese word meaning lordless samurai, and must avenge the death of their master.”
“I'm sucked in to politics right now like a hungry tick on a bloodhound which means I've heard Joe Lieberman say the word titular one too many times today.”
“That's why they all have a so-called titular church here that they become responsible for.”
“The other advocates are called titular or simple advocates.”
“The exempt archbishops are called titular archbishops, i.e. they possess only the title of archbishop, have no suffragan bishops, and administer a diocese.”
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 5: Diocese-Fathers of Mercy
“Quebec was not erected into a bishop's see until 1670, when its bishop was no longer called titular Bishop of Petræa, but Bishop of Quebec.”
“In the conservatory of a small west London hotel, Cesar Millan - better known as the titular star of the hit programme”
Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph
“But for a whole generation Alex Chilton is best-known as the titular subject of a Replacements song.”
“And finally, we got to see good old Desmond, who looked rather the worse for wear and was referred to as the titular package.”
“For avoidance of doubt, a female so called titular referral might be any of the following (these have all happened): miss, young lady or similar also, being called luv, my dear or darling by a man who is obviously not a friend of Dorothy”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘titular’.
-
Words that sound dirty but aren't.
When you want to be pedantic AND childish.
titular, masticate, condiment, titmouse, penal, formication, social intercourse, assassination, cacophony, lucubrate, rectify, banal and 117 more...
-
[Open] Frequently confused and misused
Words that are often used to mean something other than what they mean to lexicographers.
apprehensible, immanent, eminent, seamen, venal, venial, brassiere, brassier, brasserie, brazier, brasier, elegy and 38 more...
-
Innocent Words That Sound Naughty
intersects, sextet, bisects, sexagenarian, sexton, section, meatballs, titter, titular, frigate, fructose, Fukien and 4 more...
-
Pseudo-seduction
With which to confuse innocent ladies (or gentlemen, if you prefer) who might be invited to don a coverslut and come to tour an adulterine castle. Plausible deniability through lexicographical obsc...
adulterine, coverslut, cunctatory, puissant, quincunx, coccyx, groin vault, sexpartite vault, nookshaft, putlog hole, cuirass, mensuration and 35 more...
-
rare words that might be useful
transmogrify, fastidiousness, interiority, indecorous, procrustean, vociferous, descry, solecism, apogee, progeny, envisage, anteroom and 3 more...

Comments
No comments yet...
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.