dummy subject

noun

In English, a word (such as it or there) used as the subject of a sentence when the real subject is placed after the main verb, or when the subject is indefinite.

“In the expression "It's raining", the word "it" is a dummy subject.”

Similar
introductory subjectpreparatory subject
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Meanings

noundummy subject (plural dummy subjects)

plural dummy subjects

  1. grammarIn English, a word (such as it or there) used as the subject of a sentence when the real subject is placed after the main verb, or when the subject is indefinite.

    In the expression "It's raining", the word "it" is a dummy subject.

    Synonyms: introductory subject, preparatory subject

Synonyms & antonyms

nounIn English, a word (such as it or there) used as the subject of a sentence when the real subject is placed after the main verb, or when the subject is indefinite.

Similar
introductory subjectpreparatory subject

Translations

Dutch loos onderwerp
  • loos onderwerpgrammatical subject carrying no meaning of its own
Cite this entry
APA

dummy subject. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dummy%20subject

MLA

“dummy subject.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dummy%20subject. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dummy subject,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dummy%20subject.

Source: dummy subject on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.