subgenre
noun
sub·genre
ˈsəb-ˌzhän-rə 
-ˌzhäⁿ-;
-ˌzhäⁿr;
-ˌjän-rə
variants
or less commonly sub-genre
plural subgenres also sub-genres
: a genre that is part of a larger genre
The series is part of the booming "urban fantasy" subgenre, which features supernatural creatures interacting with ordinary humans in a contemporary city.—
Jennifer Schuessler
Jennifer SchuesslerExamples of subgenre in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The diversity of themes, countries and subgenres represented tells you everything about how vibrant Central America and the Caribbean are as a region, historically and culturally.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 15 May 2026
Biography, as a subgenre of creative nonfiction, is a form concerned with the truth of someone’s existence.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
But as other reality-TV subgenres similarly flourished over the two-plus decades since, the Emmys responded by micro-classifying the shows and pushing most of them to the Creative Arts ceremony.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 May 2026
The subgenre of crime drama produced in Scandinavian countries has become especially popular in the streaming era, with shows like The Åre Murders, Deadwind, and Detective Hole capturing the attention of audiences globally.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for subgenre
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.
Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 15 May 2026
Biography, as a subgenre of creative nonfiction, is a form concerned with the truth of someone’s existence.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
But as other reality-TV subgenres similarly flourished over the two-plus decades since, the Emmys responded by micro-classifying the shows and pushing most of them to the Creative Arts ceremony.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 May 2026
The subgenre of crime drama produced in Scandinavian countries has become especially popular in the streaming era, with shows like The Åre Murders, Deadwind, and Detective Hole capturing the attention of audiences globally.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for subgenre
Cite this Entry
“Subgenre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subgenre. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
