Word
titular
Phoneticstit·u·lar, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɪtʃəɫɝ/
UK/tˈɪtjʊlɐ/
Definition
adj. having a name or title that is official, but not having the real power or money that goes with it.
adj. holding a title or name without the corresponding power, rank, or salary. Often used to describe a position that is honorary or ceremonial in nature.
Examples
“He is a titular head of the department but does not have much real power.”
“The president is the titular head of the state, but the prime minister holds the actual executive authority.”
“While the professor holds a titular position at the university, his primary research funding comes from a private foundation rather than the state budget.”
Examples
simple
“He is a titular head of the department but does not have much real power.”
contextual
“The president is the titular head of the state, but the prime minister holds the actual executive authority.”
complex
“While the professor holds a titular position at the university, his primary research funding comes from a private foundation rather than the state budget.”
Real-World Examples
“The titular Percy is a white cat perched on Clark’s lap, though her actual name was Blanche; Percy was the couple’s other cat .” “The away strip is an improvement; a refined navy, it has a nice alternative badge of the city’s titular castle and a magpie.” Etymology
Etymology tree Etruscanbor. Latin titulus Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin -āris Latin titulārisder. Middle French titulairebor. English titular Borrowed from Middle French titulaire, from Latin titulāris, from titulus (“title”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/titular