The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word TOPIC
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
T
O
P
I
C
More clues leading to the result TOPIC
- Matter is poisonous, quietly knocking out ten
- Subject that’s closed, still
- Selector’s mission briefly an issue
- What’s the matter with head? In charge minimally
- Head in charge of subject
- Subject to selection, 25% off
- Subject to endless choice
- Soprano’s target, maybe, capturing current theme?
- Winner of photography competition half-heartedly revealing subject
- Subject almost ripe then?
Buddy explains!

The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TOPIC mean?
TOPIC noun- Subject; theme; a category or general area of interest.
- Discussion thread.
- A musical sign intended to suggest a particular style or genre.
- An argument or reason.
- An external local application or remedy, such as a plaster, a blister, etc.
- Topical