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

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

Monahan's own hunch centres on a subtype of the E. coli bacteria in the gut.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

This confirms that brain cancers can follow distinct biological paths depending on their subtype.

From Science Daily • Jan. 28, 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