subset

noun

sub·​set ˈsəb-ˌset How to pronounce subset (audio)
1
: a set each of whose elements is an element of an inclusive set
2
: division, portion
a subset of our community

Examples of subset in a Sentence

The set {1,2,3} is a subset of the set {1,2,3,4,5}. Only a small subset of the patients in the study experienced these side effects.
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.
This gave the apparel and footwear giant access to a machine learning technology, a subset of AI, that could predict what customers would want—down to color, style and size—and ultimately manage the company’s sprawling inventory better. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 One subset of magnet schools requires a selective admissions process, and these are at the center of the current dispute. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 The question the hosts were debating, by pointing to a specific subset of one immigrant group, was precisely how incompatible Indian Americans were with American culture, and by what degree Indian immigration should be discouraged. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 There is a subset of incoming college first year students, men and women, who find these organizations really appealing, and some of it is entirely understandable. — Richard Hall, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subset

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of subset was in 1881

Rhymes for subset

See All Rhymes for subset

Browse Nearby Words

subsessile
subset
subsexual
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Subset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subset. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

subset

noun
sub·​set ˈsəb-ˌset How to pronounce subset (audio)
: a mathematical set that is a part of another mathematical set
the set of even numbers is a subset of the set of all numbers

More from Merriam-Webster on subset

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about subset

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All