subculture

[ verb suhb-kuhl-cher; noun suhb-kuhl-cher ]

/ verb sʌbˈkʌl tʃər; noun ˈsʌbˌkʌl tʃər /

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See synonyms for subculture on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), sub·cul·tured, sub·cul·tur·ing.

Bacteriology. to cultivate (a bacterial strain) again on a new medium.

noun

Bacteriology. a culture derived in this manner.

Sociology.

the cultural values and behavioral patterns distinctive of a particular group in a society.
a group having social, economic, ethnic, or other traits distinctive enough to distinguish it from others within the same culture or society.

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Origin of subculture

First recorded in 1895–1900; sub- + culture

OTHER WORDS FROM subculture

sub·cul·tur·al, adjectivesub·cul·tur·al·ly, adverb

Words nearby subculture

subcortical, subcosta, subcover, subcritical, subcrustal, subculture, subcurrent, subcutaneous, subcutis, subdeacon, subdeaconate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use subculture in a sentence

The new model wasn’t aimed at just RV enthusiasts or the active subculture of posters at Airforums, but also at the wave of techies trading in their cramped, overpriced condos in SoMa for a life of coding while parked beneath the pines.
Tested: Airstream’s New Remote-Work Trailer|mlarsen|August 5, 2021|Outside Online
In turn, Ossoff’s own presence on TikTok fueled a vibrant subculture around him on the platform, where videos set to pop music of Ossoff milling around on the Senate floor routinely draw 200,000 likes.
Dems Convert Jon Ossoff Thirst Into Campaign Cash|Sam Brodey|July 9, 2021|The Daily Beast
For some reason I have always been fascinated by these subcultures.
John McAfee, software entrepreneur with outlaw persona, dies in prison at 75|Glenn Rifkin|June 23, 2021|Washington Post
That is, dear friend, until the algorithm jumps in, deluging you in the subcultures you’ve “liked” the most — a process that feels either as exhilarating as being accepted into a clique, or as claustrophobic as hotboxing in a straightjacket.
TikTok’s Strange (and Wonderful) Subcultures|Sean Culligan|June 23, 2021|Ozy

A few years ago, for example, BuzzFeed editors started noticing an influx of quizzes from contributors on “VSCO Girl,” a teen subculture that BuzzFeed wasn’t covering yet, but then “exploded into this big thing,” Wang said.
BuzzFeed will finally monetarily reward its Community users for their viral quizzes, lists|Sara Guaglione|June 16, 2021|Digiday
Many young women in the BDSM subculture find their way into a dominant role, whether coming from a submissive standpoint or not.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I thought it was quite bizarre and kind of sick,” Dr. Grenci said of being introduced to the subculture in 1979.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix|Justin Jones|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dr. Grenci, who agrees, also saw it as a way to expand her own knowledge on the subculture and what makes it so appealing.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix|Justin Jones|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A harmless woman is being harassed online by a nerdy subculture.
Fanboys, White Knights, and the Hairball of Online Misogyny|Tauriq Moosa|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact this is a fairly new subculture, albeit one with a dark underbelly of wax-smoking.
This Is Your E-Cigarette on Drugs|Daniel Genis|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Subculture, sub-kul′tūr, n. in bacteriology, a culture derived from a previous one.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
These can be found in subculture, but also within the entrenched culture.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for subculture

subculture

noun (ˈsʌbˌkʌltʃə)

a subdivision of a national culture or an enclave within it with a distinct integrated network of behaviour, beliefs, and attitudes

a culture of microorganisms derived from another culture

verb (sʌbˈkʌltʃə)

(tr) to inoculate (bacteria from one culture medium) onto another medium

Derived forms of subculture

subcultural, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for subculture

subculture

A group within a society that has its own shared set of customs, attitudes, and values, often accompanied by jargon or slang. A subculture can be organized around a common activity, occupation, age, status, ethnic background, race, religion, or any other unifying social condition, but the term is often used to describe deviant groups, such as thieves and drug users. (See counterculture.)

subculture

Origin of subculture

OTHER WORDS FROM subculture

Words nearby subculture

Words related to subculture

How to use subculture in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for subculture

Derived forms of subculture

Cultural definitions for subculture