subsystem

noun

sub·​sys·​tem ˈsəb-ˌsi-stəm 

variants or less commonly sub-system

plural subsystems also sub-systems

: a system that is part of a larger system

These subsystems of the climate system include the atmosphere, the oceans (both upper and deep oceans), the sea ice, the ice sheets, the land surface, and the biota.

—Stephen H. Schneider

Voyager 2 was the troublesome twin. Even before launch, failures in its onboard computer subsystems had to be rectified. The problems continued after liftoff as the attitude-control subsystem behaved in an unexpected fashion.

—William I. McLaughlin

Examples of subsystem in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These tests marked the first time that all of the engine’s critical subsystems had operated together. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026

Attalon delivers the mission-ready laser subsystems needed to help AeroVironment scale high-energy laser systems from development and demonstration into sustained operational use. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1756, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subsystem

• cryptosystem
• ecosystem
• intersystem
• multisystem
• photosystem
• system