subtext
n. C / U C1 Advanced US //ˈsəbˌtɛkst// UK //sˈʌbtɛkst// sub·text
n. the hidden meaning or message in something that is not said directly. You often find this in books, movies, or even in how someone speaks to you.
n. the underlying meaning or message that is not explicitly stated but is implied through context, tone, or symbolism. Often used in literary analysis to describe the deeper themes of a text.
The movie has a subtext about the dangers of greed.
While the characters are talking about the weather, the subtext of their conversation is a hidden argument about their future.
The playwright's use of recurring motifs provides a subtext that critiques the social hierarchy of the era, revealing the tension between public appearances and private realities.
From sub- + text.