subunit
noun
sub·unit
ˈsəb-ˌyü-nət 
variants
or less commonly sub-unit
plural subunits also sub-units
: a unit that is part of a larger unit : a subdivision of a unit
In the U.S. Army's case … the smallest subunit is the squad (nine to twelve individuals under a sergeant).—
Norman Friedman
Norman FriedmanBecause of a quirk in the replicative machinery, when a strand of DNA is duplicated during mitosis, a few subunits at one end are always lost.—John Rennie
John RennieExamples of subunit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The protein is composed of four identical subunits that must fit together perfectly to do their job.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The chemistry between the two members is already well known to fans, thanks to their roles in the group’s beloved subunit BSS, where they’re joined by Hoshi.
—Kristine Kwak, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026
The imperial hunting reserve was well managed, with hunts rotating among sixty-three subunits so as not to overharvest animals from any one location.
—Literary Hub, 14 Nov. 2025
The group has already begun this process through subunit releases, in which smaller configurations of the group will release a single or EP separate from Seventeen albums.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for subunit
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William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The chemistry between the two members is already well known to fans, thanks to their roles in the group’s beloved subunit BSS, where they’re joined by Hoshi.
—Kristine Kwak, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026
The imperial hunting reserve was well managed, with hunts rotating among sixty-three subunits so as not to overharvest animals from any one location.
—Literary Hub, 14 Nov. 2025
The group has already begun this process through subunit releases, in which smaller configurations of the group will release a single or EP separate from Seventeen albums.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for subunit
Cite this Entry
“Subunit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subunit. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
subunit
noun
sub·unit
ˈsəb-ˌyü-nət
: a unit that forms a discrete part of a more comprehensive unit
subunits of a protein
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