Meaning of “subject” in the English Dictionary

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"subject" in English

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subjectnoun [ C ]

uk ​ /ˈsʌb.dʒekt/ us ​ /ˈsʌb.dʒekt/

subject noun [ C ] (AREA OF DISCUSSION)

B1 the thing that is being discussed, considered, or studied:

Our subject for discussion is homelessness.
She has made a series of documentaries on the subject of family relationships.
The guest lecturer took as her subject (= decided to speak about) "punishment and imprisonment in modern society".
The number of planes flying over the town has been the subject of (= has caused) concern since last summer.

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subject noun [ C ] (AREA OF STUDY)

A1 an area of knowledge that is studied in school, college, or university:

My favourite subjects at school were history and English.
mainly UK Her subject (= special area of study) is low-temperature physics.
change the subject

B2 to start talking about a different subject:

I'd tried to explain the situation, but he just changed the subject.

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subject noun [ C ] (STORY/PAINTING)

C2 a person, thing, or situation that is written about in a book, article, etc. or shown in a picture, etc.:

The mill by the bridge was the subject of an unfinished painting by J. M. W. Turner.

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subject noun [ C ] (GRAMMAR)

B1 specialized language the person or thing that performs the action of a verb, or is joined to a description by a verb:

"Bob" is the subject of the sentence "Bob threw the ball."
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object noun

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Grammar

Dummy subjectsEnglish clauses which are not imperatives must have a subject. Sometimes we need to use a ‘dummy’ or ‘empty’ or ‘artificial’ subject when there is no subject attached to the verb, and where the real subject is somewhere else in the clause. It and there are the two dummy subjects used in English: …
It as a dummy subjectWe often use it as a dummy subject with adjectives and their complements: …
There as a dummy subjectThere operates as a dummy subject in the construction there is or there are. There is/are indicates that something or someone exists or is in a particular place or situation: …
SubjectsA subject is one of the five major elements of clause structure. The other four are: verb, object, complement and adjunct. Subjects are essential in declarative, negative and interrogative clauses. …
Subject positionIn statements (declarative clauses), the subject comes before the verb: …
Dummy subjectsThe subject is an essential part of a clause. Sometimes we need to use a ‘dummy’ subject where there is no other subject to put in the subject position. We use it or there as subjects: …
No subjectIn imperative clauses (orders, instructions, requests) we don’t include the subject: …
Subjects: typical errors …
Subject–verb agreementThe person and number of the subject of the clause determine the person and number of the verb of the clause. This is called subject–verb agreement or concord: …
Subject complementsA subject complement gives us more information about the subject. It usually comes after linking verbs and sense verbs (including be, seem, smell, taste), and after change of state verbs (including go, get, become). …
Subject complements: parts of speechSubject complements can be adjective phrases, noun phrases, adverb phrases or prepositional phrases: …
Pronouns as subject complementsWhen we use a pronoun as a subject complement after be, we usually use an object pronoun (e.g. me, him, us): …

subjectverb [ T ]

uk ​ /səbˈdʒekt/ us ​ /səbˈdʒekt/

Phrasal verb(s)

subject sb/sth to sth

subjectadjective

uk ​ /ˈsʌb.dʒekt/ us ​ /ˈsʌb.dʒekt/

(Definition of “subject” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"subject" in American English

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subjectnoun [ C ]

us ​ /ˈsʌb·dʒɪkt, -dʒekt/

subject noun [ C ] (AREA OF DISCUSSION)

› something that is being discussed or considered:

School officials broached the subject of extending the school year.
It seemed like a good idea to change the subject.

subject noun [ C ] (SCHOOL COURSE)

› an area of knowledge that is studied in school or college:

My favorite subjects are history and geography.

subject noun [ C ] (PERSON)

› a person who lives or who has the right to live in a particular country, esp. a country with a king or queen:

a British subject

subject noun [ C ] (GRAMMAR)

› grammar the person or thing that performs the action of a verb, or which is joined to a description by a verb:

"Bob" is the subject of the sentence, "Bob threw the ball."

(Definition of “subject” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

"subject" in Business English

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subjectadjective

uk ​ /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/ us ​
subject to sth

› likely to have or experience a particular thing, especially something unpleasant:

be subject to a charge/fee/tariff You may be subject to additional bank charges for currency conversion.
The company could be subject to a hostile takeover.
Income from investment of the capital will be subject to tax.

› depending on the stated thing happening:

The $1.14 billion project is subject to approval by the board.
Outline planning permission has been granted, subject to a public inquiry, for a new 10,000-seat stadium on the land.
Tax laws are subject to change.
The notice period for clients to leave the agency are subject to contract.

› under the political control or authority of something:

The casinos are located on tribal lands not subject to state or local laws.
subject to average

› INSURANCE used about an insurance agreement when the amount of insurance on a property is less than the real value of the property, so the amount paid out by the company will be reduced:

You must adequately insure yourself otherwise you may find yourself subject to average.

(Definition of “subject” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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subject

By the same token, we think that the provision of air traffic services should be open to liberalisation, subject to what each individual country decides is appropriate for itself.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
We know and admit that this subject was not quite so urgent at first reading but there are now problems here for procedural reasons.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
I am glad that this subject has been raised, for it is an issue of major importance, the furthest-reaching implications of which have not yet been fully examined.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
The majority, not all, but the majority, of these rights involve legal redress, in the last instance, after having been subject to a complaint to the competent governmental body.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
Community production must endure competition from third country producers whose costs are much lower and who are subject to greatly reduced tariff protection.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
In my opinion, the fishing industry and the common fisheries policy should also be subject to derogations in respect of the internal market.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
They also call for a general debate on the future of the cohesion policy after 2006, but that is another subject.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
The question specifically refers to the relation between excise taxes and the alcohol content of the goods subject to excise tax.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
I stand firmly against the way in which racism has been played down, as we have said, to make it a subject of political debate.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
The monopolistic activity of sporting organisations has caused numerous problems and must therefore be subject to strict checks and possibly reduced.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English

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