subcomponent
noun
sub·com·po·nent
ˌsəb-kəm-ˈpō-nənt 
-ˈkäm-ˌpō-,
-käm-ˈpō-
variants
or sub-component
plural subcomponents or sub-components
: a component that is part of a larger component
But what does a contractor actually have to do to assure its representations are correct? It has to know when the thing was developed and who paid for it; and it must know the answer to those questions at the lowest segregable component level—meaning subcomponents for hardware and subroutines for software.—
W. Jay DeVecchio
W. Jay DeVecchioWhen a violinist bows a string to make a high C note, the sound actually contains many individual subcomponents called harmonics.—Dragan Huterer
Dragan HutererExamples of subcomponent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The most common flaw was the poor quality of electronic subcomponents, specifically circuits.
—Dara Massicot, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2025
As Beijing tightens trade restrictions on exporting drones, many drone manufacturers are now working quickly to try to find ways to build drone subcomponents onshore themselves.
—Natan Linder, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
The bill also includes strict provisions excluding projects that use any Chinese components, minerals or subcomponents for projects that start construction after the end of this year.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 23 May 2025
However, that assumes subcomponents, like cameras, are still partly assembled outside the U.S.
To put that into context, the base model for iPhone 16 Pro Max costs $1,199 to buy outright, with $125.90 added in local taxes in Louisiana, for instance.
—Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 22 May 2025
The funding goes to 10 subcomponents in the agency, but the vast majority of it goes to just one: the Office of Federal Student Aid, which received $179.65 billion in FY 2024.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
The report shall discuss whether the agency or any of its subcomponents should be eliminated or consolidated.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
Currently testing reactor subcomponents; successful prototype in 2015 could lead to commercial reactor in 2020.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Nov. 2014
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Dara Massicot, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2025
As Beijing tightens trade restrictions on exporting drones, many drone manufacturers are now working quickly to try to find ways to build drone subcomponents onshore themselves.
—Natan Linder, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
The bill also includes strict provisions excluding projects that use any Chinese components, minerals or subcomponents for projects that start construction after the end of this year.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 23 May 2025
However, that assumes subcomponents, like cameras, are still partly assembled outside the U.S.
To put that into context, the base model for iPhone 16 Pro Max costs $1,199 to buy outright, with $125.90 added in local taxes in Louisiana, for instance.
—Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 22 May 2025
The funding goes to 10 subcomponents in the agency, but the vast majority of it goes to just one: the Office of Federal Student Aid, which received $179.65 billion in FY 2024.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
The report shall discuss whether the agency or any of its subcomponents should be eliminated or consolidated.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
Currently testing reactor subcomponents; successful prototype in 2015 could lead to commercial reactor in 2020.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Nov. 2014
Cite this Entry
“Subcomponent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subcomponent. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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