noun
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maths
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a set the members of which are all members of some given class: A is a subset of B is usually written A⊆B
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A⊂B. one that is strictly contained within a larger class and excludes some of its members
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a set within a larger set
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of subset
Explanation
Use the noun subset when you're talking about a group of things that fit in a larger category. For example, "new horror films" or "new comedies" are subsets of "new movies." You can use the word subset any time you refer to small sets within larger ones, whether you're talking about Halloween candy, greeting cards, or classmates. However, the most common use of subset happens in mathematics, which is where the word comes from originally. Subset is short for "subordinate set," or a set that is entirely contained inside another set — it's subordinate, less important or smaller.
Vocabulary lists containing subset
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
These wealthier borrowers may also be better able to absorb those shocks, the company noted, “though a smaller subset may need extra support as their rates and payments adjust upward.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
"We want to have some subset of goods that we can trade with the Chinese on a more preferential basis," he said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
But a subset of early-stage founders is embracing an ethos derived from an extreme reliance on artificial intelligence: Stay small for as long as possible.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
H. pylori status was available for a subset of 940 participants.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026
This kind of science has been termed “neuroeconomics,” a subset of which is known as “delay discounting.”
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Bhasin says certain at-risk subsets of the population should be screened, such as people with chronic kidney disease on dialysis, men who have been treated with chemotherapy, or have chronic liver disease.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
That freedom has allowed me to kind of come in and out of different subsets within architecture, and really handle my curiosity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2026
He recognizes that terms like cure and functional cure could be applied in a carefully defined way in certain subsets of patients and be beneficial, but he’s just not ready to declare victory.
From Slate ● Mar. 29, 2026
There are a few more hoops to jump through when using NordVPN because they have subsets of servers dedicated to P2P and obfuscation.
From Salon ● Mar. 27, 2026
This insight has since been applied upward to the stars, and sideways to many subsets of the human family, with great success and invariable opposition.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
