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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The movie, set in a remote Scottish village in what seems to be the Middle Ages, is in the subgenre of folk horror, which locates destructive power in pre-modern lore. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025 The seasoned filmmaker already has a cult hit in the subgenre, 2009’s Solomon Kane. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2025 The nostalgia of romance fiction, specifically the fan fiction subgenre, is also baked into this collaboration. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 8 Aug. 2025 Dystopian fiction is far from the easiest subgenre to escape into, considering the inherent darkness and ominous warnings of what our future could become. Robert English, EW.com, 30 July 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Subgenre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subgenre. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!