subculture

noun

sub·​cul·​ture ˈsəb-ˌkəl-chər 

1

a

: a culture (as of bacteria) derived from another culture

b

: an act or instance of producing a subculture

2

: an ethnic, regional, economic, or social group exhibiting characteristic patterns of behavior sufficient to distinguish it from others within an embracing culture or society

a criminal subculture

subcultural

ˌsəb-ˈkəlch-rəl

-ˈkəl-chə- 

adjective

subculturally adverb

subculture transitive verb

Examples of subculture in a Sentence

a subculture of local painters

a subculture of poverty and crime

Recent Examples on the Web

Phil Hoad recreates the story for us with a great sense of pacing and style, taking in not just the main elements of the tale, but expanding his aperture to explore the larger treasure-hunting subculture. —Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 3 Dec. 2024

Playground In Look Away, Jacob Kushner draws a disturbing portrait of the white supremacist subculture that took hold across eastern Germany in the 1990s and now is making gains at the ballot box. —The New York Review of Books, 29 Nov. 2024

The collection blended nostalgic subculture with futuristic design, weaving together a storyline of the near-future where traveling back in time becomes essential to correct the mistakes that threaten the future. —Ritu Upadhyay, WWD, 29 Oct. 2024

By merging alternative subcultures with traditional music, Clover-Lynn seeks to refashion the stereotypical sounds and images of Appalachian music. —G. Samantha Rosenthal, Them, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Medical Definition

subculture

1 of 2 noun

sub·​cul·​ture ˈsəb-ˌkəl-chər 

1

: a culture (as of bacteria) derived from another culture

2

: an act or instance of producing a subculture

subcultural

-ˈkəlch-(ə-)rəl 

adjective

subculturally

-ē 

adverb

subculture

2 of 2 transitive verb

subcultured; subculturing

: to culture (as bacteria) anew on a fresh medium by inoculation from an older culture