subliminal
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subliminal
- /sʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/ UK
- [ˌsʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nl̩] UK
- [səˈblɪm.ɪ.nl̩] UK
- /sʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/ US
- [səˈblɪm.ɪ.nl̩] US
- /ˌsɐbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/ Australia
- [ˌsabˈlɪm.ɪ.nl̩] Australia
Rhymes with -ɪmɪnəl
Where it comes from
From sub- (“beneath, under”) + liminal (“of or pertaining to an entrance or threshold”) (from Latin līminālis, from līmen (“doorstep, threshold; doorway, entrance; beginning, commencement”); possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Heh₃l- (“to bend, bow; elbow”)) + *-mn̥ (suffix forming action nouns or result nouns from verbs)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns)). The noun is derived from the adjective.
The English word is a borrowing from German subliminal or a calque of German unterschwellig (“subliminal”, literally “beneath the threshold”).
adjective more subliminal · most subliminal · sub-liminal
-
Of a stimulus, below the limen or threshold of conscious perception, especially if still able to produce a response; also (generally), below the threshold where a response can be produced.
Similar: latent, underthreshold · Opposite: liminal, superliminal
-
Of an advertisement, a message, etc.: conveyed in a manner that the viewer is unaware of being influenced by it.
Similar: latent, underthreshold · Opposite: liminal, superliminal
- Without directed awareness or thought; subconscious (dated), unconscious.
noun subliminals · sub-liminal
- An advertisement, a message, etc., which is conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it.
- An audio or video recording, often consisting of ambient music or white noise with hidden affirmations, intended to produce physical or psychological changes in the listener through repetition. She spent all night listening to a subliminal to change her eye color.
- Chiefly preceded by the: the subconscious (dated) or unconscious self.
Translations
Every language
adj below the threshold of conscious perception
| Español | subliminal |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 閾下の ikika no |
| Português | subliminar |
| Français | subliminal |
| Deutsch | unterbewusst, unterschwellig, subtil |
| Italiano | subliminale |
| Ελληνικά | παρασυνειδησιακός parasyneidisiakós |
| Română | subliminal |
| Русский | сублиминальный subliminalʹnyj, подсознательный podsoznatelʹnyj |
| עברית | תַּת־סִפִּי tat-sipí |
noun something below the limen or threshold of conscious perception
| 日本語 | 閾下 ikika |
|---|
Talk about this word "subliminal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/subliminal. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. subliminal. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/subliminal "subliminal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/subliminal.Cite this
@misc{subliminal_2026,
title = {subliminal},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/subliminal},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
