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

Influenza monitoring via wastewater surveillance has already shown increases in the H5 subtype—the viral group to which H5N1 belongs. —Michael Mina, TIME, 9 May 2024

There are many subtypes, but the strain involved in the most recent outbreak is the highly pathogenic H5N1. —Amber Sayer, Health, 8 May 2024

Here, doctors explain the different subtypes of psoriatic arthritis and the unique symptoms associated with each. —Sarah Bradley, Health, 17 Jan. 2024

Trending Now: Multiple sclerosis has distinct subtypes, study finds, pointing to different treatments Most of all, advocates say there’s no reason not to ban the chemical given there’s other, albeit more expensive, ways to decaffeinate coffee. —Nicholas Florko, STAT, 28 Mar. 2024

Gentle parenting is a subtype of authoritative parenting, which is accepted as the healthiest of the three core parenting styles. —Tyler Santora, Parents, 22 Mar. 2024

Those scars lend further credence to the theory that the cohort indeed represents a new subtype because the parasitic fish only live in deep water. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024

Some of the most common subtypes are irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. —Amanda Gardner, Health, 4 Mar. 2024

Direct-to-chip and immersion cooling come in two subtypes: single-phase and two-phase. —Matt Kimball, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above

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