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

• subtypical
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of subtype

First recorded in 1860–65; sub- + type

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

subtype

Such a test could potentially help diagnose Alzheimer's disease, determine its stage, and identify a patient's particular disease subtype.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

Using mouse models that lacked either cDC1 cells or a related subtype called cDC2, the team explored how each cell population contributes to the immune response after mRNA cancer vaccination.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 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

Importantly, pancreatic cancer cells are not fixed in one subtype.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 3, 2026

There were two or three varieties, but each subtype was markedly distinct, and each was endemic to one particular island.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee