subgenre

American  

[suhb-zhahn-ruh, -zhahn-r^uh] / ˈsʌbˌʒɑn rə, -ˌʒɑ̃ rə /

noun

1. a lesser or subordinate genre.

   a subgenre of popular fiction.

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subgenre British  

/ ˈsʌbˌʒɑːnrə /

noun

1. a category that is a subdivision of a larger genre

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Etymology

Origin of subgenre

sub- + genre

Example Sentences

Where some see a black comedy, others see horror and/or a bleak exploration of the pressures of motherhood — an increasingly popular subgenre referred to by some as “mum noir.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

But stick around, and you will find that Kramer’s take on the subgenre is far more fascinating and pertinent to life outside the movie theater than most of its peers.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

Slowcore is a subgenre of indie rock characterised by its slow tempos, minimal arrangements, and melancholic atmosphere.

From BBC • Oct. 26, 2025

These EPs are part of a growing subgenre of jazz and hip-hop hybrids from musicians who grew up loving both genres.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

And there is a whole subgenre of ancestor research—sons and daughters flying to New York clutching scrapbooks, tracking down letters of indenture, photographs, birth certificates.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline