adj

subliminal

suh-BLIHM-ih-nuhl

adj

Below the threshold of conscious awareness, though still capable of affecting thoughts or behavior.

"The film contained a subliminal message flashed for a fraction of a second."

"Some advertisers use subliminal cues to influence buying decisions."

How to Use Subliminal

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that reaches your mind without you consciously noticing it.

Common pairings

subliminal message subliminal advertising

more subliminal comparative, subliminals plural, most subliminal superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The film contained a _____ message flashed for a fraction of a second.

From sub- ("below") plus liminal ("relating to a threshold"), from Latin līmen, "threshold."

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