standfirst

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UK/ˈstandfəːst/

noun

Explanatory text under the main heading of a news article, smaller than the heading but still larger than the main text.

Similar
kickersubheadingsubheadsubheddekdeckleadlede
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

nounstandfirst (plural standfirsts)

plural standfirsts

  1. UKjournalismExplanatory text under the main heading of a news article, smaller than the heading but still larger than the main text.

    The standfirst talked of “Jubilation as article 50 is finally served”.

    2017 March 30, Jon Henley, Jane Martinson, The Guardian

    Synonyms: kicker, subheading, subhead, subhed, dek, deck, lead, lede

Synonyms & antonyms

nounExplanatory text under the main heading of a news article, smaller than the heading but still larger than the main text.

Similar
kickersubheadingsubheadsubheddekdeckleadlede

Origin

From stand + first.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German Untertitel, Zwischenzeile
  • Untertitelexplanatory text, of intermediate size, under the main heading of a news article
  • Zwischenzeileexplanatory text, of intermediate size, under the main heading of a news article
Cite this entry
APA

standfirst. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/standfirst

MLA

“standfirst.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/standfirst. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “standfirst,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/standfirst.

Source: standfirst on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.