subculture
noun
sub·cul·ture
ˈsəb-ˌkəl-chər 
1
a
: a culture (as of bacteria) derived from another culture
b
: an act or instance of producing a subculture
2
: an ethnic, regional, economic, or social group exhibiting characteristic patterns of behavior sufficient to distinguish it from others within an embracing culture or society
a criminal subculture
Examples of subculture in a Sentence
a subculture of local painters
a subculture of poverty and crime
Recent Examples on the Web
One belief that unifies this Christian subculture is the idea that God speaks through prophecy.
—
Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
For her first-ever series, Lane immersed herself in the quirky subculture of Mrs. America hopefuls.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 7 June 2025
There’s now a feature that allows users the opportunity to explore and educate themselves on subcultures and fashion trends.
—Camille Freestone, Vogue, 13 May 2025
Notable for its cheap-budget lifestyle and an alternative hippie subculture that interacted more readily with locals than traditional tourists did, the trail held legendary allure, spotlit by the Beatles’ 1968 trip to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh, India.
—Laura Manske, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subculture
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Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
For her first-ever series, Lane immersed herself in the quirky subculture of Mrs. America hopefuls.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 7 June 2025
There’s now a feature that allows users the opportunity to explore and educate themselves on subcultures and fashion trends.
—Camille Freestone, Vogue, 13 May 2025
Notable for its cheap-budget lifestyle and an alternative hippie subculture that interacted more readily with locals than traditional tourists did, the trail held legendary allure, spotlit by the Beatles’ 1968 trip to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh, India.
—Laura Manske, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subculture
Cite this Entry
“Subculture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subculture. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
subculture
1 of 2 noun
sub·cul·ture
ˈsəb-ˌkəl-chər
1
: a culture (as of bacteria) derived from another culture
2
: an act or instance of producing a subculture
subculture
2 of 2 transitive verb
subcultured; subculturing
: to culture (as bacteria) anew on a fresh medium by inoculation from an older culture
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