thematic
gb/θimˈætɪk/ us/θimˈætɪk/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
related to central themes
connected with the main ideas or themes in something such as a book, film, course, or discussion.
Usage pattern:
thematic [noun]; the thematic [noun] of [something]
Common mistake:
Do not use thematic as a noun. Say the theme of the story, not the thematic of the story.
Synonyms
theme-related (More direct and less formal.)
|
topical (Related to a topic, often more surface-level than a theme.)
|
motif-related (Often used for repeated ideas, images, or patterns in art or literature.)
Antonyms
unrelated (Not connected to the subject or theme.)
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incidental (Present but not central to the main ideas.)
|
non-thematic (Lacking a clear connection to themes.)
Collocations
thematic focus
|thematic element
|thematic concern
|thematic link
|thematic connection
|thematic content
|thematic structure
|thematic significance
|thematic pattern
|thematic depth
Themes
literature
|media
|arts
|education
|academia
Examples
- The novel's thematic focus is the conflict between personal freedom and family duty.
- The exhibition draws thematic links between migration, memory, and identity.
- Critics praised the film's visual style but found its thematic ideas underdeveloped.
Learner examples
- The story has a clear thematic message about forgiveness.
- We discussed the poem's thematic connection to nature.
adjective
C1
property
2
organized around a theme
organized by topic or theme.
Usage pattern:
thematic [noun]; arranged in thematic [plural noun]
Common mistake:
For parties, restaurants, and costumes, themed is often more natural than thematic: a beach-themed party, not usually a thematic party.
Synonyms
theme-based (Clearer and more common in everyday contexts.)
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topic-based (Emphasizes subjects or topics rather than deeper themes.)
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organized by theme (A plain explanatory phrase.)
Antonyms
chronological (Organized by time rather than theme.)
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alphabetical (Organized by letter order rather than theme.)
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random (Not organized by any clear principle.)
Collocations
thematic section
|thematic unit
|thematic issue
|thematic collection
|thematic grouping
|thematic exhibition
|thematic curriculum
|thematic module
|thematic program
|thematic category
Themes
education
|planning
|publishing
|museums
|events
Examples
- The museum arranged the paintings in thematic sections rather than by century.
- Each month, the magazine publishes a thematic issue on a single topic.
- The teacher created a thematic unit on water, covering science, geography, and art.
Learner examples
- The books are in thematic groups.
- We studied a thematic unit about food.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
related to musical motifs
connected with a repeated musical idea or melody.
Usage pattern:
thematic [noun] in [piece/composition]
Common mistake:
In music, thematic usually refers to a musical theme or motif, not simply to the subject of the lyrics.
Synonyms
motivic (More technical; specifically related to short musical motifs.)
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melodic (Related to melody, but not always to a recurring theme.)
Antonyms
non-thematic (Not based on a recognizable musical theme.)
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atonal (Contrasts only in some contexts; describes music without a tonal center, not exactly without themes.)
Collocations
thematic material
|thematic development
|thematic idea
|thematic motif
|thematic transformation
|thematic variation
|thematic return
|thematic unity
Themes
music
|arts
|composition
Examples
- The opening melody provides most of the symphony's thematic material.
- In the final movement, the composer brings back the thematic idea in a slower form.
- The review praised the opera's rich thematic development.
Learner examples
- The composer reused the thematic material near the end.
- The piece has strong thematic development.
Grammar
Dictionary form
thematic
IPA
GB/θimˈætɪk/
US/θimˈætɪk/
Syllables & stress
them - at - ic (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (at)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: thematic
Expressions
thematic analysis
1/θimˈætɪk ænˈælɪsɪs/
fixed phrase
technical
qualitative theme-based analysis
a research method that finds common themes in qualitative data.
Examples
- The researchers used thematic analysis to identify patterns in the interview transcripts.
- Her dissertation includes a thematic analysis of online patient forums.
- The thematic analysis revealed three main concerns: cost, trust, and access.
thematic apperception test
1/θimˈætɪk ˈæpɚsˈɛpʃən tˈɛst/
fixed phrase
technical
picture-story personality test
a psychology test where a person makes up stories about unclear pictures.
Examples
- In the Thematic Apperception Test, people tell stories about ambiguous pictures.
- The Thematic Apperception Test is sometimes discussed in courses on personality assessment.
- The clinician used several tools, including the Thematic Apperception Test, as part of the evaluation.
thematic investing
1/θimˈætɪk ɪnvˈɛstɪŋ/
fixed phrase
business
investing by long-term trends
investing in companies connected to a big trend or idea.
Examples
- Thematic investing has attracted funds focused on artificial intelligence and clean energy.
- The firm's thematic investing strategy targets companies that may benefit from aging populations.
- Some investors like thematic investing because it connects portfolios to long-term social trends.
thematic map
1/θimˈætɪk mˈæp/
fixed phrase
technical
map showing one subject
a map that shows information about one topic, not just roads or places.
Examples
- The report includes a thematic map showing population density by district.
- Students created thematic maps of rainfall across the region.
- Unlike a road map, this thematic map focuses on income levels.
thematic role
1/θimˈætɪk ɹˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
technical
semantic role in grammar
the meaning role a person or thing has in an action, such as doer or receiver.
Examples
- In the sentence 'Maya broke the glass,' Maya has the thematic role of agent.
- Students identified the thematic roles assigned by each verb.
- Thematic roles help explain who does what to whom in a sentence.
thematic statement
1/θimˈætɪk stˈeɪtmənt/
fixed phrase
sentence stating a theme
a sentence that says what message a story gives about a topic.
Examples
- A strong thematic statement explains what a story suggests about a topic, not just what the topic is.
- Her thematic statement argued that fear can make communities turn against outsiders.
- The teacher asked students to revise their thematic statements after the discussion.