subtype

American  

[suhb-tahyp] / ˈsʌbˌtaɪp /

noun

1. a subordinate type.

2. a special type included within a more general type.

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subtype British  

/ sʌbˈtɪpɪkəl, ˈsʌbˌtaɪp /

noun

1. a secondary or subordinate type or genre, esp a specific one considered as falling under a general classification

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subtypical
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of subtype

First recorded in 1860–65; sub- + type

Example Sentences

The other was a subtype of microglia, immune cells in the brain that help control inflammation.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

Her blood is also RO, a rare and vital subtype often found in people with black African or Caribbean descent.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Cats develop this subtype more often than humans, giving scientists access to samples, and offering clues to new medicines that might help in treatment.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

For the first time, the study explains how one subtype can detect damage from a distance and respond in ways that support recovery.

From Science Daily • Feb. 13, 2026

Both Mr. Sloat and Milt Borogrove stared at him as he rattled on, “Give us the specifications of the cat you desire. Color, sex, subtype, such as Manx, Persian, Abyssinian—”

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick