subgenre

noun

sub·​genre ˈsəb-ˌzhän-rə How to pronounce subgenre (audio)
-ˌzhäⁿ-;
-ˌzhäⁿr;
-ˌjän-rə
variants or less commonly sub-genre
plural subgenres also sub-genres
: a genre that is part of a larger genre
The series is part of the booming "urban fantasy" subgenre, which features supernatural creatures interacting with ordinary humans in a contemporary city.Jennifer Schuessler

Examples of subgenre in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Clay McLeod Chapman is excellent at this subgenre. Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025 In 1996, Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson’s slasher satire Scream helped redefine a dormant subgenre. Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Sep. 2025 Having become the latest inspiration for an ever-growing biopic subgenre about tech entrepreneurs of the 21st century, Whitney Wolfe Herd is conflicted about Hulu‘s Swiped. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2025 That tally ranks the bestselling full-lengths and EPs that can be classified by the Official Charts Company as hip-hop, rap, R&B or some other subgenre connected to those styles. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for subgenre

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subgenre was in 1903

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Cite this Entry

“Subgenre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subgenre. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

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