subplot

noun sub·plot \ ˈsəb-ˌplät \

Updated on: 7 Apr 2018

Definition of subplot

1 : a subordinate plot in fiction or drama

2 : a subdivision of an experimental plot of land

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Recent Examples of subplot from the Web

Arce’s long goodbye grew into a curious subplot in a political drama that opened on Feb. 28.

— jon lender, courant.com, "Arce Finally Resigns, Denying Any 'Improper Relationship' With Teen Girl He Texted," 29 Mar. 2018
That is exactly the kind of silly-yet-profound move The Magicians would pull: bury a story about a disenfranchised majority into a little subplot about magical bestiality.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "How The Magicians Turned Margo from Mean Girl to the Show’s Best Character," 29 Mar. 2018
There are subplots about whether Rome's hiding Christians should openly, violently revolt, and the internal struggle of the prison's prefect (French actor Olivier Martinez, alone weez eez awk-sent) who hates his gig and has a dying child.

— robert abele, latimes.com, "'Paul, Apostle of Christ' takes a compelling Biblical character and delivers a ponderous drama," 22 Mar. 2018
What Alabama does with Hurts and what his future may hold, meanwhile, stands as one of the most intriguing subplots across the Football Bowl Subdivision.

— paul myerberg, USA TODAY, "Alabama's QB battle, Georgia's re-loaded offense highlight SEC spring football storylines," 14 Mar. 2018
What could become a thoughtful exploration of right-wing radicalization leads to a baffling subplot about PTSD, and Glaspie’s investigation begins to feel increasingly ancillary.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "Collateral: David Hare Tackles the Refugee Crisis," 10 Mar. 2018
There’s also a subplot about a younger couple Miles (Harry Treadaway) and Sunny (Amanda Seyfried) who travel from L.A. to Mexico to steal one of these weed pills (Sunny is of course oblivious).

— lindsey bahr, Detroit Free Press, "Review: ‘Gringo’ tries (and fails) to be provocative," 8 Mar. 2018
There’s also a subplot about a younger couple Miles (Harry Treadaway) and Sunny (Amanda Seyfried) who travel from LA to Mexico to steal one of these weed pills (Sunny is of course oblivious).

— Washington Post, "Film Review: A good cast can’t save contrived ‘Gringo’," 8 Mar. 2018
The injuries are an enduring subplot in 2017-18, given the absences at various points of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and now Bell.

— ron kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, "Trials, tribulations — and a lot of wins," 28 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'subplot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of subplot

1812

SUBPLOT Defined for English Language Learners

subplot

noun

Definition of subplot for English Language Learners

: a plot that is related to but less important than the main plot of a story

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subplot

Definition of subplot

Recent Examples of subplot from the Web

First Known Use of subplot

SUBPLOT Defined for English Language Learners

subplot

Definition of subplot for English Language Learners

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