subset

American  

[suhb-set] / ˈsʌbˌsɛt /

noun

1. a set that is a part of a larger set.

2. Mathematics. a set consisting of elements of a given set that can be the same as the given set or smaller.

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subset British  

/ ˈsʌbˌsɛt /

noun

1. maths

   1. a set the members of which are all members of some given class: A is a subset of B is usually written A⊆B

   2.  A⊂B.  one that is strictly contained within a larger class and excludes some of its members

2. a set within a larger set

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subset Scientific  

/ sŭb′sĕt′ /

1. A set whose members are all contained in another set. The set of positive integers, for example, is a subset of the set of integers.

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Etymology

Origin of subset

First recorded in 1900–05; sub- + set

Example Sentences

State officials used the system to search for information on a subset of about 6,000 voters they had reason to think might not be citizens, according to emails between federal and state officials.

From Salon

So far in 2026, a number of index funds that follow alternative strategies to track subsets of the S&P 500 or change the index’s weighting have performed quite well.

From MarketWatch

And yet a growing subset of the U.S. top tech and finance talent is dialing in from Southern Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal

“They’re exposed to a subset of companies with fragile balance sheets,” Newman said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The LA28 executive committee — a subset of its broader 35-member board — said it took “allegations of misconduct seriously” and attorneys had looked at the accusations.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• subdivision