subset

noun

sub·​set ˈsəb-ˌset 

1

: a set each of whose elements is an element of an inclusive set

2

: division, portion

a subset of our community

Examples of subset in a Sentence

The set {1,2,3} is a subset of the set {1,2,3,4,5}.

Only a small subset of the patients in the study experienced these side effects.

Recent Examples on the Web

This retirement savings strategy is a subset of the FIRE movement, which stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026

If surfer music was a subset of rock and roll with doo-wop overlay, hot rod music was a subset of surfer music with gearhead overlay. — Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 14 Sep. 2026

This study drew on data from fitness monitors that were worn for a week by a subset of participants in the UK Biobank, which collects health and lifestyle information on half a million people. — Veronique Greenwood, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

True investigations, where somebody sits down and rebuilds a timeline across four systems, are a much smaller subset that almost nobody separates out. — Sanjay Gidwani, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for subset

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• binet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

subset

noun

sub·​set ˈsəb-ˌset 

: a mathematical set that is a part of another mathematical set

the set of even numbers is a subset of the set of all numbers