masthead in a newspaper

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The printed title of a newspaper, shown in large letters at the top of the front page.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a masthead' or 'the masthead of the paper'.

   Patterns

   • the masthead of a newspaper
   • a newspaper's masthead

   The masthead of the newspaper was redesigned in bold blue letters.

   Readers immediately recognize the paper from its masthead.

2. 2nouncountable

   A list of a newspaper's owners, editors, and staff, usually printed on an inside page.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with 'on the masthead' to mean listed as staff.

   Patterns

   • on the masthead
   • the masthead lists someone

   Her name appeared on the masthead as a contributing editor.

   The masthead lists the publisher, editor, and senior writers.

Word forms

Common combinations

newspaper masthead

The newspaper masthead includes the date and price.

on the masthead

He was proud to be on the masthead of a national daily.

masthead design

The masthead design uses a traditional serif font.

masthead editor

The masthead editor approves all staff changes.

Synonyms and how they differ

nameplate

A more formal term for the title block on the front page; often used in design contexts.

flag

British journalism term for the same front-page title; less common in American English.

banner

Can mean a large headline across the page, not the title block, so use carefully.

Word family

masthead noun

The short form of the same term, used when the context is clear.

Commonly confused: masthead in a newspaper or headline?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “masthead in a newspaper”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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