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
Each trial usually has a narrow purview, such as testing a treatment for a specific subtype of stage 3 breast cancer, for example.
—Simon Spichak, Health, 11 July 2025
There are four subtypes of HL.2 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL): NHL has over 40 subtypes, which can range from indolent and slow-growing to more aggressive.3
Knowing the exact type of lymphoma is important for choosing the right treatment.
—Marla Anderson, Verywell Health, 2 July 2025
These are two different subtypes of the influenza A virus.
—Annette Regan, The Conversation, 28 Feb. 2025
Further testing is needed to determine which subtypes may contain the active molecule.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtype
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Simon Spichak, Health, 11 July 2025
There are four subtypes of HL.2 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL): NHL has over 40 subtypes, which can range from indolent and slow-growing to more aggressive.3
Knowing the exact type of lymphoma is important for choosing the right treatment.
—Marla Anderson, Verywell Health, 2 July 2025
These are two different subtypes of the influenza A virus.
—Annette Regan, The Conversation, 28 Feb. 2025
Further testing is needed to determine which subtypes may contain the active molecule.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtype
Cite this Entry
“Subtype.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtype. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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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