subtext
nounUK /ˈsʌbtekst/
US /ˈsʌbtekst/
The hidden meaning that someone really wants to say without saying it out loud.
When she said 'nice haircut' with a smirk, the subtext was that she didn't like it.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The words of a play or film that are spoken by actors, as opposed to the stage directions.
The actor studied the subtext of the script before rehearsals.
3. A message that is implied by a character's actions or words in a story rather than stated directly.
In the novel, the subtext of the letter revealed the character's true feelings.
4. An underlying theme or idea in a work of art, music, or literature.
The painting's subtext is about loneliness in a crowded city.