subdivision

noun

sub·​di·​vi·​sion ˈsəb-də-ˌvi-zhən 

1

: an act or instance of subdividing

2

: something produced by subdividing: such as

a

: a subordinate part of a larger whole

political subdivisions

b

: a tract of land surveyed and divided into lots for purposes of sale

especially : one with houses built on it

3

: a category in botanical classification ranking below a division and above a class

Examples of subdivision in a Sentence

a political subdivision of the state

Recent Examples on the Web

There were at least sixty guarantee games played between teams in college football’s highest subdivision, this year, with seventy-five million dollars in total payouts, according to the Associated Press. —Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024

Following the divorce, Colin and Colt Gray rented another single family home in a subdivision in the town. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 7 Sep. 2024

Brooks was one of the few Blacks to develop a subdivision for African Americans in Milwaukee. —La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024

In Wellington, about 15 miles west of West Palm Beach, cars were flipped, trees downed and garages and parts of roofs torn off after a reported tornado rolled through a subdivision. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

subdivision

noun

sub·​di·​vi·​sion ˌsəb-də-ˈvizh-ən 

1

: the act or process of subdividing

2

: one of the parts into which something is subdivided

Medical Definition

subdivision

noun

sub·​di·​vi·​sion ˈsəb-də-ˌvi-zhən 

: a category in botanical classification ranking below a division and above a class

Legal Definition

subdivision

noun

sub·​di·​vi·​sion ˈsəb-də-ˌvi-zhən 

1

: an act or instance of subdividing

obtain approval of his subdivision of the land

2

: a tract of land subdivided into lots

to provide streets and sewers for the subdivision

3

: a part made by subdividing

as prescribed in subdivision one of this section