subtype

noun

sub·​type ˈsəb-ˌtīp 

variants or less commonly sub-type

plural subtypes also sub-types

: a type that is a subdivision of a broader type

… the … vaccine has a new, additional molecular component that its developers believe will contribute to a broader range of protection against subtypes of HIV found in North America, Europe, Australia, Central America, and South America.

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

… the neurotransmitter serotonin has at least 14 different known subtypes of receptors.

—Steven F. Hyman

Among subtypes of juggling found in circus shows are juggling on horseback and strong-man juggling with iron balls.

—Mark Levine

Examples of subtype in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The first deadly human case of a subtype of bird flu has been confirmed in Mexico, the World Health Organization announced Wednesday. —Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024

The World Health Organization confirmed on Wednesday the first-ever fatal case of a subtype of bird flu in Mexico. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 5 June 2024

Antipsychotic treatment resistance in first-episode psychosis: prevalence, subtypes and predictors. —Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2024

And one type of receptor for glutamate is the NMDA subtype. —Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 23 May 2024

Bird flu, also called avian influenza, is caused by subtypes of the influenza A virus. —Amber Sayer, Health, 8 May 2024

In 1997, the World Health Organization classified FGM (also sometimes known as female circumcision or FGC), into four different types of procedures, which can vary further through subtypes entailing the partial or total removal of clitoral glans. —Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 23 May 2024

So far, the scientific literature on wastewater detection of H5 influenza subtypes is scant but encouraging. —Megan Molteni, STAT, 22 May 2024

Genetic analysis established that the virus infecting Cambodians was the familiar subtype, not the one in the Americas — a relief. —Stephanie Nolen Thomas Cristofoletti, New York Times, 21 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

subtype

1 of 2 noun

sub·​type ˈsəb-ˌtīp 

: a type that is subordinate to or included in another type

the blood group subtypes

subtypes of a disease

subtype

2 of 2 transitive verb

subtyped; subtyping

: to classify according to subtype

schizophrenic patients subtyped as paranoid or catatonic