subtype

noun

sub·​type ˈsəb-ˌtīp 

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 neurotransmitter serotonin has at least 14 different known subtypes of receptors.

—Steven F. Hyman

Among subtypes of juggling found in circus shows are juggling on horseback and strong-man juggling with iron balls.

—Mark Levine

Examples of subtype in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

From there, lab directors select the wells with the highest concentrations of each virus, subjecting a reserved portion to further genetic analysis, which shows which subtype of each virus is present. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026

What to know about H3N2 subclade K The vast majority of cases continue to be influenza A, which includes the new H3N2 subtype. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026

Most recently, scientists have been monitoring the highly-pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 subtype, or bird flu. —Patrick Jackson, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026

The subtype affects about 10% of breast cancer patients, according to the Cleveland Clinic. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subtype

• bagpipe
• blowpipe
• standpipe
• stovepipe
• tailpipe
• unripe
• windpipe
• allotype
• antitype
• archetype
• biotype
• collotype

Medical 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