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

This port inside the vehicle connects to various subsystems and allows small receivers to access the car's computer system. —Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Samsung used this to achieve a 4x improvement in productivity for one project and an 11% improvement to PPA in AI subsystems. —Anshel Sag, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025

With much of Mk1’s subsystems common to Mk2, Limp professed confidence in Blue Origin’s ability to have that spacecraft ready for the fifth Artemis launch, currently set for 2030. —Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 12 Feb. 2025

In addition, thumbs up were given to the propulsion, fuel systems, hydraulics, power, thermal control, and other subsystems. —David Szondy may 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1756, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subsystem

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