subdivision

noun

sub·​di·​vi·​sion ˈsəb-də-ˌvi-zhən 

1

: an act or instance of subdividing

2

: something produced by subdividing: such as

a

: a subordinate part of a larger whole

political subdivisions

b

: a tract of land surveyed and divided into lots for purposes of sale

especially : one with houses built on it

3

: a category in botanical classification ranking below a division and above a class

Examples of subdivision in a Sentence

a political subdivision of the state

Recent Examples on the Web

Some commission members were concerned with the road connections to existing road stubs in the unincorporated Lynnwood subdivision to the west, while other commission members favored the road connections as proposed, Zenner said. —Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026

Also in Suffield, William Wilson is proposing a 24-lot subdivision called Copper Hill Estates on a 34-acre property bordered by Copperhill, Griffin and Lake roads. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026

Suites in the building, however, have only one to three rooms and leases specifically prohibit subdivision of those spaces, according to the property owner, Kambiz Merabi. —Jason Henry, Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026

South Austin's streets, including South First, were shaped by early subdivision development before the city folded them into its broader system. —Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for subdivision

• cablevision
• circumcision
• imprecision
• indecision
• supervision
• television
• abscission
• collision
• decision
• derision
• division
• elision

Kids Definition

subdivision

noun

sub·​di·​vi·​sion ˌsəb-də-ˈvizh-ən 

1

: the act or process of subdividing

2

: one of the parts into which something is subdivided

Medical Definition

subdivision

noun

sub·​di·​vi·​sion ˈsəb-də-ˌvi-zhən 

: a category in botanical classification ranking below a division and above a class

Legal Definition

subdivision

noun

sub·​di·​vi·​sion ˈsəb-də-ˌvi-zhən 

1

: an act or instance of subdividing

obtain approval of his subdivision of the land

2

: a tract of land subdivided into lots

to provide streets and sewers for the subdivision

3

: a part made by subdividing

as prescribed in subdivision one of this section