subsystem

noun

sub·​sys·​tem ˈsəb-ˌsi-stəm How to pronounce subsystem (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Atmos has three main goals during the test flight: collect information from Phoenix and its subsystems in orbit, gather data from the onboard customer payloads, and deploy and stabilize the capsule's IAD during reentry. Mike Wall, Space.com, 5 Feb. 2025 Boom has used these missions both to verify the XB-1’s airworthiness and to test subsystems like the cameras that provide a full view of runways at the XB-1’s high landing angles. Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 28 Jan. 2025 Why Was the Blue Origin Launch Aborted Today? Launch controllers discovered a technical issue with one of the rocket's subsystems shortly before liftoff. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025 These billion-dollar workhorses served military, intelligence, and civil agencies well for decades, with slow improvements made to their subsystems. Charles Beames, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for subsystem 

Word History

First Known Use

1756, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subsystem was in 1756

Dictionary Entries Near subsystem

Cite this Entry

“Subsystem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subsystem. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on subsystem

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!