minisub

American  

[min-ee-suhb] / ˈmɪn iˌsʌb /

noun

1. a small submarine, holding only one or a few persons, used in naval operations, underwater exploration, or conducting underwater experiments.

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Etymology

Origin of minisub

First recorded in 1955–60; mini- + sub

Example Sentences

With a towing capacity of 17,800 pounds, our fancy friend could trailer a minisub and not even feel it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

Many of them are about the minisub — which is referred to variously as a minisub, a pod, or a tube, but which I will continue calling a minisub for consistency’s sake.

From The Verge • Dec. 5, 2019

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk began construction of a custom kid-size minisub.

From Washington Post • Jul. 13, 2018

Oksana Gorlova, a spokeswoman for the Baikalsk mill, said Tuesday that the government decision behind it had been made in July, a month before Mr. Putin's televised dive in the minisub.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2010

"Flying at the Bottom of the Sea" is a journey to the floor of the Atlantic Ocean in Alvin, the Navy's minisub designed for deep-sea probes.

From Time Magazine Archive