Headline Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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headline

[ˈhɛdˌlaɪn ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

news

A heading at the top of an article or page in a newspaper or magazine.

Synonyms

banner, heading, title.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
headline	Use for the main title of a news article or a prominent section in a newspaper or online news site. The headline on the front page caught everyone's attention. She wrote a catchy headline for her blog post.
title	Generally used for the name of a book, movie, or official document. It can also refer to someone's position or rank. The title of the movie intrigued many viewers. She finally achieved the title of 'Manager' after years of hard work.
heading	Typically used for titles of sections within a document or article, often smaller or less prominent than a headline. Add a heading to each section of your report. The heading for this chapter is 'Introduction to Ecology'.
banner	Commonly used in advertising or marketing; it refers to a large sign or a piece of marketing material that spans across a web page or a physical event. The company displayed a huge banner at the trade show. A banner ad at the top of the website promotes the new product.

Examples of usage

The headline of the newspaper announced the breaking news.
She read the headline before deciding to read the full article.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

attention grabbing

A phrase or sentence that summarizes the main point or message.

Synonyms

catchphrase, slogan, tagline.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
headline	Used for news articles, newspapers, and magazines to draw attention to a particular story or article. The headline of today's newspaper was about the economic crisis. She always checks the headlines before reading the full articles.
slogan	Commonly used in marketing and advertising to create a memorable phrase representing a brand or product's key message. Nike's famous slogan is 'Just Do It'. Every successful political campaign needs a strong slogan.
catchphrase	Often used in entertainment, particularly in TV shows, movies, or marketing to create a memorable phrase associated with a character, brand, or campaign. The catchphrase 'I'll be back' is iconic from the Terminator movies. Brands often use catchphrases to make their advertisements more memorable.
tagline	Used similarly to a slogan but often more focused on representing a company's brand identity rather than a campaign or product. Apple’s tagline is 'Think Different.' A good tagline can help a brand stay recognizable and memorable.

Examples of usage

The headline of the advertisement caught my attention immediately.
His speech had a powerful headline that resonated with the audience.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Media and Communication

Good headlines can increase reader engagement by up to 50%, making them crucial for attracting attention.
Different styles of headlines exist, such as 'how-to' or 'listicles,' each designed to appeal to different audiences.
In the age of digital media, headlines are often optimized for search engines to drive traffic to articles.

Psychology

Headlines that evoke emotion or curiosity tend to be more effective at drawing readers in.
Research shows that people are more likely to remember catchy or clever headlines compared to ordinary ones.
The brain processes headlines differently than the rest of the text, highlighting their importance in communication.

History of Journalism

Among the first newspapers to use a distinct headline was 'The Times' of London in the late 18th century.
In the early 20th century, headline style became more sensational as newspapers competed for readers.
Today, the concept of 'clickbait' headlines has emerged, where headlines may exaggerate or distort content to attract clicks.

Literature

Headlines are not only found in news; they can also serve as chapter titles in novels and articles, setting the tone.
The use of puns or clever wordplay in headlines has made them an important form of literary expression.
Famous essays and articles often have memorable headlines that resonate beyond their initial publication.

Origin of 'headline'

Main points about word origin

The word originated from the combination of 'head' and 'line,' reflecting its role as the leading line in a text.
In the 18th century, it began to specifically denote the title of news articles in newspapers.
Previously, headlines were often referred to as 'titles' or 'captions' before the term 'headline' became popular.

The term 'headline' originated in the late 19th century, combining 'head' and 'line' to refer to the line at the top of a newspaper containing the title and date. Over time, it evolved to also describe attention-grabbing phrases or sentences used in various media to summarize content.