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 Journal of the American Medical Association… the neurotransmitter serotonin has at least 14 different known subtypes of receptors.—Steven F. Hyman
Steven F. HymanAmong subtypes of juggling found in circus shows are juggling on horseback and strong-man juggling with iron balls.—Mark Levine
Mark LevineExamples of subtype in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The effect was particularly strong in patients with the diarrhea-predominant subtype of IBS (IBS-D), who were six times more likely to respond to the diet.
—New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2024
Black women with obesity are also at a significantly higher risk for early-onset breast cancer and are more likely to be diagnosed with two aggressive molecular subtypes: luminal A and triple-negative breast cancer.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 23 Oct. 2024
Both can play a role in increasing a woman’s risk for hormone-sensitive subtypes of breast cancer, which usually grow more slowly and are easier to treat.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 19 Oct. 2024
The virus itself, especially the HPV 16 and HPV 18 subtypes, can lead to the development of anal cancer.
—Qin Rao, Verywell Health, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for subtype 
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New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2024
Black women with obesity are also at a significantly higher risk for early-onset breast cancer and are more likely to be diagnosed with two aggressive molecular subtypes: luminal A and triple-negative breast cancer.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 23 Oct. 2024
Both can play a role in increasing a woman’s risk for hormone-sensitive subtypes of breast cancer, which usually grow more slowly and are easier to treat.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 19 Oct. 2024
The virus itself, especially the HPV 16 and HPV 18 subtypes, can lead to the development of anal cancer.
—Qin Rao, Verywell Health, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for subtype
Dictionary Entries Near subtype
Cite this Entry
“Subtype.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtype. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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