subsystem
noun
sub·sys·tem
ˈsəb-ˌsi-stəm 
variants
or less commonly sub-system
plural subsystems also sub-systems
: a system that is part of a larger system
These subsystems of the climate system include the atmosphere, the oceans (both upper and deep oceans), the sea ice, the ice sheets, the land surface, and the biota.—
Stephen H. Schneider
Stephen H. SchneiderVoyager 2 was the troublesome twin. Even before launch, failures in its onboard computer subsystems had to be rectified. The problems continued after liftoff as the attitude-control subsystem behaved in an unexpected fashion.—William I. McLaughlin
William I. McLaughlinExamples of subsystem in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This stored energy powers its thrusters, computers, sensors, and subsystems.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
Using such an arrangement, Lockheed Martin claims that the Lamprey can reach its mission area with its batteries 100% charged to run the craft's quad-thruster propulsion system, autonomous onboard computers, sensors, and subsystems.
—David Szondy
february 09, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2026
That batch of data included operational procedures, spacecraft and mission details, subsystems documentation, and proprietary contractor data from ESA partners including SpaceX, Airbus Group, and Thales Alenia Space, according to The Register.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Instead, engineers moved software code from the chip into a different part of the subsystem's memory system.
—George Petras, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subsystem
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Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
Using such an arrangement, Lockheed Martin claims that the Lamprey can reach its mission area with its batteries 100% charged to run the craft's quad-thruster propulsion system, autonomous onboard computers, sensors, and subsystems.
—David Szondy
february 09, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2026
That batch of data included operational procedures, spacecraft and mission details, subsystems documentation, and proprietary contractor data from ESA partners including SpaceX, Airbus Group, and Thales Alenia Space, according to The Register.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Instead, engineers moved software code from the chip into a different part of the subsystem's memory system.
—George Petras, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subsystem
Cite this Entry
“Subsystem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subsystem. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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