Caption: meaning, definitions and examples

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caption

[ˈkæpʃən ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

social media

A brief explanation or description accompanying an illustration, photograph, or graphic.

Synonyms

description, explanation, title.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
caption	Used when providing a brief text under a photo or illustration to describe or explain it. The caption under the image read 'Sunset over the mountains.'
description	Utilized to give a detailed account or explanation of someone or something. The description of the house included details about the number of rooms and the size of the garden.
explanation	Applied when giving more in-depth information or making something clear and understandable. Her explanation of the scientific concept helped the students understand it better.
title	Used to give the name of a book, article, or other piece of work. The title of the book was 'The Great Mystery.'

Examples of usage

The caption under the Instagram post was witty and engaging.
She always writes a funny caption for her photos.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

newspaper

A title or brief explanation appended to an article, illustration, cartoon, or poster.

Synonyms

heading, headline, subtitle.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
caption	Small text that describes a picture, diagram, or photo in a book, article, or presentation. The photo of the Eiffel Tower had a caption that read 'A symbol of Paris'
headline	Main title at the top of a news article or newspaper. Usually eye-catching and concise. The headline of the newspaper read 'New Discovery in Space'
subtitle	Secondary title or a smaller text that provides more details or context to the main title. The book title was 'The Mysterious Island' with the subtitle 'A Journey into the Unknown'
heading	Title for a section or chapter in a book, article, or document. The heading of the first chapter was 'Introduction to Physics'

Examples of usage

The caption of the article summarized the main points.
The caption of the cartoon added humor to the image.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

social media

To provide a caption for (a picture or photograph).

Synonyms

describe, label, title.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
caption	Best used for text under images, photos, or illustrations in books, magazines, or online articles. The photo of the sunset had a caption below it. She read the funny caption under the cartoon.
describe	This is appropriate when giving a detailed account or explanation of something, often used in writing or speaking to explain characteristics or features. She tried to describe the beautiful scenery to her friend. Can you describe what happened at the meeting?
title	Used to give a name to a book, movie, song, article, or any other piece of work. The title of her new book is 'The Great Adventure'. They decided on a title for the new movie.
label	Used for identifying objects or items with a name, often found on products, packaging, or in a scientific context. Each jar was carefully labeled with its contents. He labeled all the boxes before moving.

Examples of usage

She captioned the photo with a quote from her favorite book.
Don't forget to caption your posts to engage your audience.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin word 'captiō', which means 'to take' or 'to seize', linking it to capturing a moment.
It has been used in print since the 17th century, originally pertaining to headlines and titles.
Over time, its usage expanded to include descriptions accompanying images in art and media.

Media and Communication

In modern social media, captions help convey context, emotion, or humor, often engaging the audience directly.
Captions can vary widely in style, from informative to playful, depending on the platform and creator's intent.
They serve as a bridge between the visual and textual, enhancing comprehension and accessibility.

Accessibility

Captions provide important context for individuals who are hard of hearing, ensuring everyone can enjoy media.
They often include descriptions of sounds (like music or laughter), which can enrich the viewing experience.
Legal requirements in many countries mandate captions in films and broadcasts to promote inclusivity.

Art and Literature

In fine art, captions can offer insight into an artwork's meaning, artist, and historical context.
Literary works also utilize captions for illustrations, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
In comics and graphic novels, captions are vital for storytelling, delivering internal thoughts, or adding humor.

Pop Culture

Funny captions often go viral on social media, leading to trends and challenges centered around creativity.
Memes frequently rely on clever captions to transform a simple image into a humorous commentary on current events.
Captions have inspired internet lingo, with phrases becoming popular shorthand for humor or irony.

Translations

Translations of the word "caption" in other languages:

🇵🇹 legenda

🇮🇳 कैप्शन

🇩🇪 Untertitel

🇮🇩 keterangan

🇺🇦 заголовок

🇵🇱 napis

🇯🇵 キャプション

🇫🇷 légende

🇪🇸 subtítulo

🇹🇷 altyazı

🇰🇷 자막

🇸🇦 تسمية توضيحية

🇨🇿 titulky

🇸🇰 titulok

🇨🇳 字幕

🇸🇮 napis

🇮🇸 texti

🇰🇿 субтитр

🇬🇪 სათაური

🇦🇿 altyazı

🇲🇽 subtítulo

Word Frequency Rank

At position #12,912, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.

...
12909 microfilm
12910 chattel
12911 epidermis
12912 caption
12913 renamed
12914 profane
12915 insensitive
...