variants
or less commonly sub-type
plural subtypes also sub-types
: a type that is a subdivision of a broader type
… the … vaccine has a new, additional molecular component that its developers believe will contribute to a broader range of protection against subtypes of HIV found in North America, Europe, Australia, Central America, and South America.—
The Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical Association… the neurotransmitter serotonin has at least 14 different known subtypes of receptors.—Steven F. Hyman
Steven F. HymanAmong subtypes of juggling found in circus shows are juggling on horseback and strong-man juggling with iron balls.—Mark Levine
Mark LevineExamples of subtype in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Neutrophilic asthma is a subtype of this condition, where high levels of other white blood cells, neutrophils, cause inflammation.
—Carisa Brewster, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2025
The letter detailed about 180 medical device staff cuts, which included 25 experts in artificial intelligence, a 20 percent reduction in biostatisticians who evaluated studies of novel devices and the loss of molecular biologists with expertise in diagnostic tests that pinpoint a cancer subtype.
—Christina Jewett, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Recent animal outbreaks from a subtype called H5N1 have been especially troubling to scientists.
—Ron Barrett, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2025
Understanding the subtype and grade helps providers decide on the best treatment plan.
—Julie Scott, Msn, Anp-Bc, Aocnp, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtype
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Carisa Brewster, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2025
The letter detailed about 180 medical device staff cuts, which included 25 experts in artificial intelligence, a 20 percent reduction in biostatisticians who evaluated studies of novel devices and the loss of molecular biologists with expertise in diagnostic tests that pinpoint a cancer subtype.
—Christina Jewett, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Recent animal outbreaks from a subtype called H5N1 have been especially troubling to scientists.
—Ron Barrett, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2025
Understanding the subtype and grade helps providers decide on the best treatment plan.
—Julie Scott, Msn, Anp-Bc, Aocnp, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtype
Cite this Entry
“Subtype.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtype. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
subtype
1 of 2 noun
sub·type
ˈsəb-ˌtīp 
: a type that is subordinate to or included in another type
the blood group subtypes
subtypes of a disease
subtype
2 of 2 transitive verb
subtyped; subtyping
: to classify according to subtype
schizophrenic patients subtyped as paranoid or catatonic
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