subculture

[ verb suhb-kuhl-cher; noun suhb-kuhl-cher ]

verb (used with object)

, sub·cul·tured, sub·cul·tur·ing.

1. Bacteriology. to cultivate (a bacterial strain) again on a new medium.

noun

1. Bacteriology. a culture derived in this manner.
2. Sociology.
   1. the cultural values and behavioral patterns distinctive of a particular group in a society.
   2. a group having social, economic, ethnic, or other traits distinctive enough to distinguish it from others within the same culture or society.

subculture

noun

1. a subdivision of a national culture or an enclave within it with a distinct integrated network of behaviour, beliefs, and attitudes
2. a culture of microorganisms derived from another culture

verb

1. tr to inoculate (bacteria from one culture medium) onto another medium

subculture

1. A group within a society that has its own shared set of customs, attitudes, and values, often accompanied by jargon or slang . A subculture can be organized around a common activity, occupation, age, status , ethnic background, race, religion, or any other unifying social condition, but the term is often used to describe deviant groups, such as thieves and drug users. ( See counterculture .)

Derived Forms

• subˈcultural, adjective

Other Words From

• sub·cultur·al adjective
• sub·cultur·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of subculture¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; sub- + culture

Example Sentences

The new model wasn’t aimed at just RV enthusiasts or the active subculture of posters at Airforums, but also at the wave of techies trading in their cramped, overpriced condos in SoMa for a life of coding while parked beneath the pines.

From Outside Online

In turn, Ossoff’s own presence on TikTok fueled a vibrant subculture around him on the platform, where videos set to pop music of Ossoff milling around on the Senate floor routinely draw 200,000 likes.

From The Daily Beast

For some reason I have always been fascinated by these subcultures.

From Washington Post

That is, dear friend, until the algorithm jumps in, deluging you in the subcultures you’ve “liked” the most — a process that feels either as exhilarating as being accepted into a clique, or as claustrophobic as hotboxing in a straightjacket.

From Ozy

A few years ago, for example, BuzzFeed editors started noticing an influx of quizzes from contributors on “VSCO Girl,” a teen subculture that BuzzFeed wasn’t covering yet, but then “exploded into this big thing,” Wang said.

From Digiday

Many young women in the BDSM subculture find their way into a dominant role, whether coming from a submissive standpoint or not.

From The Daily Beast

“I thought it was quite bizarre and kind of sick,” Dr. Grenci said of being introduced to the subculture in 1979.

From The Daily Beast

Dr. Grenci, who agrees, also saw it as a way to expand her own knowledge on the subculture and what makes it so appealing.

From The Daily Beast

A harmless woman is being harassed online by a nerdy subculture.

From The Daily Beast

In fact this is a fairly new subculture, albeit one with a dark underbelly of wax-smoking.

From The Daily Beast

Subculture, sub-kul′tūr, n. in bacteriology, a culture derived from a previous one.

From Project Gutenberg

These can be found in subculture, but also within the entrenched culture.

From Project Gutenberg