Finesentence

Topical Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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topical

top-i-cal

🇺🇸 /ˈtɑpəkəɫ/ · 🇬🇧 /tˈɒpɪkəl/

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

relevant issue

Topical refers to something that is relevant to current events or issues. It often describes matters that are of immediate interest or concern to a particular audience. Topical discussions can be found in news articles, public debates, or academic papers. This term is frequently used in the context of social and political issues.

Synonyms

contemporary, current, pertinent, relevant.

Examples of usage

  • The professor gave a lecture on topical issues in sociology.
  • Many bloggers write about topical matters to engage their readers.
  • The newspaper focuses on topical affairs that affect the community.

Translations

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Quick facts about “topical”

Topical is a 3-syllable adjective (top-i-cal). It is pronounced /ˈtɑpəkəɫ/ in American English and /tˈɒpɪkəl/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 1 meaning, 4 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #10,361 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'topical'

The word 'topical' originates from the Latin word 'topicalis,' which means 'of a place' or 'pertaining to place.' This itself derives from 'topos,' the Greek word for 'place.' Originally, the term was used in a more physical sense, referring to the concept of location. Over time, its meaning evolved to refer to matters related to a specific subject or issue, particularly in fields such as journalism, academia, and public discourse. By the 19th century, 'topical' had taken on the connotation of being relevant to current events or contemporary discussions. Today, it is commonly used to describe anything that is timely and significant to ongoing societal conversations.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,361, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.