subspecialty

noun

sub·​spe·​cial·​ty ˌsəb-ˈspe-shəl-tē 

variants or less commonly sub-specialty

plural subspecialties also sub-specialties

: a specialty that is part of a broader specialty

Child psychiatry is a subspecialty of general psychiatry, just as hematology is of internal medicine.

—Bruno Bettelheim and Alvin A. Rosenfeld

An entire subspecialty known as machine learning is devoted to building algorithms that allow computers to develop new behaviors based on experience.

—Adam Piore

Examples of subspecialty in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The split would foster subspecialty development, research, and innovation in these historically underexplored areas while giving young doctors the opportunity to specialize in one or the other. —Dr. Elizabeth Poynor, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024

So, hepatology is a subspecialty under gastroenterology.5 Gastroenterology vs Hepatology Specialist appointments can be hard to find. —Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2024

The niche subspecialty demands delicate hands, unflappable focus, and a nuanced understanding of developmental biology. —Megan Molteni, STAT, 21 Feb. 2024

The company is a market leader in subspecialty teleradiology and provides services for outpatient imaging centers, orthopedic practices, university healthcare systems, and professional sports teams. —Andrew Gaudet, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

subspecialty

noun

sub·​spe·​cial·​ty ˌsəb-ˈspesh-əl-tē, ˈsəb-ˌ 

plural subspecialties

: a subordinate field of specialization

child psychiatry is a subspecialty of general psychiatry

—Bruno Bettelheim et al.