subgroup

[suhb-groop]

noun

1. a subordinate group; a division of a group.

2. Chemistry.,  a division of a group in the periodic table.

3. Mathematics.,  a subset of a group that is closed under the group operation and in which every element has an inverse in the subset.

subgroup

/ ˈsʌbˌɡruːp /

noun

1. a distinct and often subordinate division of a group

2. a mathematical group whose members are members of another group, both groups being subject to the same rule of combination

Word History and Origins

Origin of subgroup¹

First recorded in 1835–45; sub- + group

Example Sentences

Helen Tager-Flusberg, director of the Center for Autism Research Excellence at Boston University, says the difficulty with clinically defining subgroups is that “human nature and human brain disorders don’t always cut at neatly defined boundaries.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Planned studies also include larger, pragmatic trials to evaluate outcomes in specific subgroups and health-economic analyses comparing low-dose radiation with injections and medication regimens.

Read more on Science Daily

It means that is now possible to group the hard-to-classify fossils as subgroups belonging to one of the "big three," or their more primitive ancestors, Asian Homo erectus and heidelbergensis, according to Prof Ni.

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Enrollment has dropped across all racial subgroups, with Latino students — the largest share of LAUSD’s student population — dropping by more than 114,300 students, a 28% decline, over the last 11 years.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The results are estimated to have a margin of error of 2 percentage points in either direction in the overall sample, and larger numbers for subgroups.

Read more on Los Angeles Times