subspecies

American  

[suhb-spee-sheez, suhb-spee-] / ˈsʌbˌspi ʃiz, sʌbˈspi- /

noun

plural

subspecies

1. a subdivision of a species, especially a geographical or ecological subdivision.

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subspecies British  

/ ˈsʌbˌspiːʃiːz, ˌsʌbspɪˈsɪfɪk /

noun

1.  ssp.  biology a taxonomic group that is a subdivision of a species: usually occurs because of isolation within a species

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subspecies Scientific  

/ sŭb′spē′shēz,-sēz /

1. A subdivision of a species of organisms, usually based on geographic distribution. The subspecies name is written in lowercase italics following the species name. For example, Gorilla gorilla gorilla is the western lowland gorilla, and Gorilla gorilla graueri is the eastern lowland gorilla.

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Other Word Forms

• subspecific
  adjective
• subspecifically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of subspecies

First recorded in 1690–1700; sub- + species

Example Sentences

Doubts remain however over a local subspecies of the rodent.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

Researchers selected 23 hybrid tortoises with the closest genetic links to the extinct subspecies and began breeding them in captivity on Santa Cruz island.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

"This is a very significant finding; it is the first genetic dissection of Race 4 resistance from this wild subspecies."

From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2026

The Angel Island mole, a unique subspecies endemic to the island, seems to be just a small part of their diet, which came as a relief.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 11, 2025

I had cousins in California and Oregon whose parents were basically a subspecies of helicopter, they hovered so much.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon