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
The virus primarily infects birds There are multiple subtypes of the bird flu, but H5 subtypes of influenza A are the most common.
—Shahid Meighan, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
The other subtypes are squamous cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025
While cannabinoids offer a potential alternative for refractory chronic pain, optimal use requires personalized dosing and further high-quality trials targeting specific pain subtypes.
—Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2025
Globally, in 2020, over 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed, of which 70% were a subtype known as estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2–).
—New Atlas, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtype
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Shahid Meighan, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
The other subtypes are squamous cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025
While cannabinoids offer a potential alternative for refractory chronic pain, optimal use requires personalized dosing and further high-quality trials targeting specific pain subtypes.
—Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2025
Globally, in 2020, over 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed, of which 70% were a subtype known as estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2–).
—New Atlas, 27 Jan. 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 27 Feb. 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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