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

This flawed but very entertaining two-hander belongs in the unique subgenre of literary biographies in which a cult author’s life is investigated through the highly specific prism of their work. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2026

That the classic mystery subgenre would continue to stake its claim in the cinematic world is no surprise. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026

Indeed, excoriating the high prices of this year’s tournament has turned into a social media subgenre of its own. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026

The song was a frenetic evolution of Brooklyn drill—the grimy, bone-rattling subgenre of hip-hop popularized by Bobby Shmurda—and its instrumental by the British producer 808Melo gave it a brash East London bounce. — Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subgenre

• genre