subtheme

noun

sub·​theme ˈsəb-ˌthēm 

variants or sub-theme

plural subthemes or sub-themes

: a theme that is secondary to a larger theme

… these three different bodies of work are also bound together by the entwined themes of migration, globalism, and—unexpectedly—portraiture. Subthemes of labour, old age, and surveillance also emerge here.

—Robin Laurence

Three themes were ultimately extracted from the data: (a) instructional benefits and implications, (b) complexity, and (c) outlook. Each theme has two to four subthemes that were represented in the data.

—Sheri M. Treadwell et al.

Examples of subtheme in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This dragon subtheme will be an exciting announcement for Commander players, where dragons like Korvold, the Ur-Dragon, Niv-Mizzet, Arcades and Nicol Bolas are all popular Dragon commanders to build around. —Joe Parlock, Forbes, 24 June 2021

The oceans — another frontier whose depths have only begun to be plumbed — becomes a subtheme. —Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2022

Between dungeons and dice rolling, this might be one of the biggest shakeups to the game since Throne of Eldraine's Adventure mechanic, and the impact a Dragons-matters subtheme will have on formats like Commander is intriguing. —Joe Parlock, Forbes, 24 June 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above