subculture

noun

sub·​cul·​ture ˈsəb-ˌkəl-chər How to pronounce subculture (audio)
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- How to pronounce subculture (audio)
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
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.
The entrance sign at Patriots Place, the Foxborough campus that houses the New England Patriots' Gillette Stadium, displayed images and memes related to gay furry subculture Tuesday, according to several social media posts. Mike Deehan, Axios, 25 Feb. 2025 If ‘80s London subcultures — punk, New Romantics, Goth, and the Blitz Kids — were placed in a blender, the outcome would look something like Leigh Bowery, the colorfully eccentric and provocative performance artist and club promoter who died 30 years ago. Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 20 Feb. 2025 Mud Madness follows the off-road subculture of extreme Big-Tire UTV mud racing and the passionate characters that drive the sport. Peter White, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025 From there, James follows Helen into a subculture where others share their extreme fetish for car crashes. Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for subculture

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of subculture was in 1885

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Subculture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subculture. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

subculture

1 of 2 noun
sub·​cul·​ture ˈsəb-ˌkəl-chər How to pronounce subculture (audio)
1
: a culture (as of bacteria) derived from another culture
2
: an act or instance of producing a subculture
subcultural adjective
subculturally adverb

subculture

2 of 2 transitive verb
subcultured; subculturing
: to culture (as bacteria) anew on a fresh medium by inoculation from an older culture
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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