subgenre

noun

sub·​genre ˈsəb-ˌzhän-rə 

-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

Minotaur, 304 pages, $28 The subgenre of culinary mysteries has undergone a sea change in the past 16 years. — Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026

Why does this event seem to grow more important as the world’s attention continues to fracture into niche subgenres? — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

And Greek mythology for kids is a popular subgenre for podcasts and web series. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 July 2026

Their early live shows were marked by ominous guitar riffs, blast beats, and gruesome antics onstage, feeding into the early signs of a new heavy metal subgenre that would become death metal. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subgenre

• genre