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

subcultural

ˌsəb-ˈkəlch-rəl, 

-ˈkəl-chə- 

adjective

subculturally adverb

subculture transitive verb

Examples of subculture in a Sentence

a subculture of local painters

a subculture of poverty and crime

Recent Examples on the Web

From viral costumes to repair parts, a skeleton subculture is booming. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Looksmaxxing, primarily targeting young men, was long an obscure self-improvement movement, but recent coverage has made their subculture (and its many subdivisions) all but unavoidable. — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026

Court documents show Robertson took a minor from Frisco, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia, in May 2024 to attend a furry convention, a gathering centered around a subculture involving anthropomorphic animal characters and costumes. — S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 14 July 2026

Parsons’ rise to mainstream creative stardom, built out of internet virality and obscure message-board subculture, represents a new path for aspiring filmmakers—one that doesn’t necessarily require submitting to traditional film festivals. — Rachel Brodsky, Time, 14 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for subculture

• agriculture
• apiculture
• aquaculture
• counterculture
• floriculture
• horticulture
• mariculture
• monoculture
• sericulture
• silviculture
• viticulture
• arboriculture

Medical 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

subcultural

-ˈkəlch-(ə-)rəl 

adjective

subculturally

-ē 

adverb

subculture

2 of 2 transitive verb

subcultured; subculturing

: to culture (as bacteria) anew on a fresh medium by inoculation from an older culture