Meaning & use
newspaper masthead
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Meanings
nouncountable
The printed title of a newspaper, with its logo and details, shown at the top of the front page.
Grammar: Countable: say a newspaper masthead or the newspaper's masthead.
Patterns
- the masthead of a newspaper
- appear on the masthead
- redesign the masthead
The newspaper masthead carries the paper's name, its motto and the date.
They redesigned the newspaper masthead in a heavier typeface so it would stand out at newsstands.
Her first job at the paper was drawing small illustrations for the newspaper masthead.
nouncountableAmerican
A small box inside a newspaper giving the names of its owners, editors and other senior staff.
Grammar: Chiefly American use; often with the definite article: check the masthead for the editor's name.
Patterns
- list someone on the masthead
- the masthead of a magazine
- appear on the masthead
After ten years as a reporter she was finally listed on the masthead as an editor.
The masthead on page four names the publisher and the managing editor.
He checked the masthead to find out who was in charge of the business section.
Word forms
| plural | newspaper mastheads |
|---|
Common combinations
- appear on the masthead
- His name appears on the masthead of every issue.
- redesign the masthead
- The magazine redesigned its masthead last spring.
- the masthead of a newspaper
- The masthead of a newspaper is usually its most recognizable graphic.
- a name on the masthead
- She is proud to have her name on the masthead.
- the masthead editor
- The masthead editor decides which stories lead the paper.
Synonyms and how they differ
- nameplate
- British English prefers nameplate for the title block on the front page; masthead is the usual American word for that block.
- banner
- A banner is any large headline or title strip, while a masthead is specifically the paper's own title and identity block.
- flag
- In printing, flag is a technical term for the same title block; masthead is the everyday word readers meet.
Word family
- masthead noun
- The short form, used on its own in the same two senses.
- mastheaded adjective
- Rare: describing a page or publication that has a printed title block.
Commonly confused: newspaper masthead or headline? newspaper masthead or mast?
newspaper masthead vs headline
A headline is the title of one article, not the newspaper's own name and staff panel.
newspaper masthead vs mast
A mast is a tall pole on a ship; masthead originally meant the top of such a pole, which is why the printing sense can puzzle learners.
Practice
Which sentence uses "newspaper masthead" in its most common sense?
Choose one answer.
The title block printed at the top of page one is the most common sense, so option 1 fits; option 0 describes the staff panel, a mainly American second sense, and options 2 and 3 confuse masthead with a headline and with the newspaper itself.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “newspaper masthead”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.