subgenre

American  

[suhb-zhahn-ruh, -zhahn-r^uh] / ˈsʌbˌʒɑn rə, -ˌʒɑ̃ rə /

noun

1. a lesser or subordinate genre.

   a subgenre of popular fiction.

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subgenre British  

/ ˈsʌbˌʒɑːnrə /

noun

1. a category that is a subdivision of a larger genre

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Etymology

Origin of subgenre

sub- + genre

Example Sentences

But stick around, and you will find that Kramer’s take on the subgenre is far more fascinating and pertinent to life outside the movie theater than most of its peers.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

But as a teenager in the mid-2010s, she was also enamored with the rambunctious hip-hop subgenre known as SoundCloud rap, which made stars out of XXXTentacion and Lil Uzi Vert.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2025

Slowcore is a subgenre of indie rock characterised by its slow tempos, minimal arrangements, and melancholic atmosphere.

From BBC • Oct. 26, 2025

There was no precedent for a subgenre like thrash, or death metal, or black metal to last this long.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025

And there is a whole subgenre of ancestor research—sons and daughters flying to New York clutching scrapbooks, tracking down letters of indenture, photographs, birth certificates.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline