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

Before forcing producers to cut back gas supplies, Colorado needs to take this first step to stop building new subdivisions based on gas heating. —Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026

Faced with the possibility that a builder will try to convert the 140-acre Chippanee Country Club into a housing subdivision, Bristol is looking into whether to buy the property itself. —Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026

One example is South Street, between Long Common Parkway and Nestler Road, where Copper Springs, Shadow Hills and Providence subdivisions on the city’s far west side meet. —Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026

The fight occurred after the students got off the school bus in the Ashley Place subdivision. —Eric Stirgus, AJC.com, 10 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