caption
KAP-shuhn
Caption (noun) means a short piece of text that explains or accompanies an image, video, or on-screen dialogue. Example: “The photo's caption identified everyone standing in the group shot.”
noun
1
A short piece of text that explains or accompanies an image, video, or on-screen dialogue.
"The photo's caption identified everyone standing in the group shot."
"She turned on captions so she could follow the film without sound."
"Under the cartoon, the caption made everyone in the room laugh."
verb
1
To add a caption to an image, film, or broadcast.
"The studio captioned the entire series for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers."
"Could you caption this holiday photo before we send it to Grandma?"
"The charity volunteers captioned the lecture videos so that anyone could follow them."
How to use caption
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe label or short text under a picture, or the subtitles on a video.
Common pairings
photo caption
closed captions
caption a photo
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Word forms
- Plural
- captions
- Third person singular
- captions
- Past tense
- captioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The photo's _____ identified everyone standing in the group shot.
Etymology
From Latin captio, "a taking, a seizing," from capio, "to take" — the sense shifted over time from a legal "taking" to the modern "heading" or "label."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for caption
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for caption →
Frequently asked questions
What does “caption” mean?
The word “caption” means a short piece of text that explains or accompanies an image, video, or on-screen dialogue. In plain terms, the label or short text under a picture, or the subtitles on a video.
How do you pronounce “caption”?
“Caption” is pronounced KAP-shuhn (/ˈkæp.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “caption” in a sentence?
Here is “caption” used in a sentence: “The photo's caption identified everyone standing in the group shot.”
What part of speech is “caption”?
Depending on how it is used, “caption” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “caption” come from?
The word “caption” comes from Latin. From Latin captio, "a taking, a seizing," from capio, "to take" — the sense shifted over time from a legal "taking" to the modern "heading" or "label.".
Is “caption” a common word?
“Caption” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “caption” have?
“Caption” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short piece of text that explains or accompanies an image, video, or on-screen dialogue.
What is the difference between a caption and a subtitle?
A caption is a short piece of text that explains or accompanies an image, video, or on-screen dialogue, and can include descriptions of sound as well as speech. A subtitle specifically transcribes spoken dialogue, usually for translation or accessibility, and does not typically describe non-speech sounds.
Do you caption a photo or write a caption for it?
Both phrasings are correct: caption can be used as a verb meaning to add a caption to an image, film, or broadcast, as in "caption the photo," or as a noun in "write a caption for the photo." The verb form directly means to perform the act of adding the text.
What is the difference between a caption and a headline?
A caption is text that explains or accompanies an image, video, or on-screen dialogue, tying it directly to that visual content. A headline sits atop an article and introduces the whole piece of writing, not a specific image.
