noun

subtlety

SUHTL-tee

noun

The quality of being delicate, faint, or not obvious.

"The subtlety of the joke meant half the audience missed it."

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 notes

In plain EnglishA fine, delicate quality or detail that takes attention to notice.

Common pairings

subtlety and nuance lack subtlety appreciate the subtlety

subtleties plural

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The _____ of the joke meant half the audience missed it.

From Old French sutilté, from Latin subtilitas, from subtilis ("subtle").

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