subset

noun

sub·​set ˈsəb-ˌset 

1

: a set each of whose elements is an element of an inclusive set

2

: division, portion

a subset of our community

Examples of subset in a Sentence

The set {1,2,3} is a subset of the set {1,2,3,4,5}.

Only a small subset of the patients in the study experienced these side effects.

Recent Examples on the Web

Another tax break that could apply to a subset of filers is the bigger cap on the federal deduction for state and local taxes, or SALT. —Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025

Today, search engines are a very small part of our referral traffic, and third-party agents are a very small subset of that. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025

One of Pritam’s earliest works, it was published in 1950, before Partition literature became a critical subset of South Asian literature more generally. —JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025

Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married, there has been a subset of people who have been convinced that their differences would lead to divorce. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for subset

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

subset

noun

sub·​set ˈsəb-ˌset 

: a mathematical set that is a part of another mathematical set

the set of even numbers is a subset of the set of all numbers