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Glite Dictionary
strapline

strapline

6.8
A short line printed above a headline to give extra information
  • noun
  • /ˈstræpˌlaɪn/
  • Literature
translation icon : subtítulo
  • The brochure featured a catchy strapline to attract more readers.

Examples

  • The newspaper's strapline highlighted the main theme of the article.

  • So you can imagine how I responded when I read an article in the Saturday Telegraph which bore as its strapline, the title of this blog!

    Blog text (11)

  • Each magazine cover displayed a strapline that provided insight into the featured stories.

Synonyms

subtitle
vsstrapline
33 3.7

Short title under the main title that explains a book or article

is placed above the main headline to add emphasis or information
heading
vsstrapline
28 1.3

A short title at the top of a page that shows what follows

is specifically a secondary line printed above a main headline for emphasis
subheading
vsstrapline
2 3.2

A smaller title that shows what a section of writing is about

is placed above the main title rather than inside sections
subhead
vsstrapline
2 3.5

A small heading inside a chapter or article to show the topic

sits above the main headline rather than inside subsections to add emphasis
catchline
vsstrapline
  • Literature
5.4

Short heading at the top of a page that shows what the text is about

adds emphasis or extra information above the main title

Surface Forms

strapline singular
straplines plural

Morphology

strapline = strap + line (semi-transparent) = strap + line

The components 'strap' and 'line' are literal words, but the specialized journalistic meaning 'secondary heading/tagline' is conventionalized and not directly inferable from the parts.

Etymology

Strapline comes from strap ('a band or strip', like a belt) and line ('a row of words'), so imagine a small 'belt' of text across the page. That's why a strapline is a short extra heading used above or below a main headline to give extra information.