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

Since around 2022 after the post-pandemic crossover of South African music genres, DJs have infused African sonic elements into house music, a subgenre of electronic dance music that has been a choice for raves in Lagos. —ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026

While artists like Legado 7 and El de la Guitarra were experimenting with corridos verdes, the weed-centric precursor to tumbados, Junior’s work alongside Cano helped establish corridos tumbados as a distinct subgenre. —Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2026

Since around 2022 after the post-pandemic crossover of South African music genres, DJs have infused African sonic elements into house music, a subgenre of electronic dance music that has been a choice for raves in Lagos. —Ope Adetayo, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026

Reggae with a Spanish twist In the 1960s and 1970s, Jamaicans introduced three subgenres of reggae – mento, ska and dancehall – to Panama. —Brendan Frizzell, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above