noun
subtlety
SUHTL-tee
noun
1
The quality of being delicate, faint, or not obvious.
"The subtlety of the joke meant half the audience missed it."
2
A fine or precise detail, especially one that is easy to overlook.
"Learning a language means picking up the subtleties of tone as well as grammar."
"He appreciated the subtleties of the wine that a novice would miss."
How to Use Subtlety
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fine, delicate quality or detail that takes attention to notice.
Common pairings
subtlety and nuance
lack subtlety
appreciate the subtlety
Word Forms
subtleties plural
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Etymology
From Old French sutilté, from Latin subtilitas, from subtilis ("subtle").