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Definition of subset

subset

/ˈsʌb.sɛt/
sub · set
Plural:subsets
•
Past Simple:subsetted
•
Past Participle:subsetted
•
Present Participle:subsetting
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subset Lexical Profile

subset Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A smaller group of people or things that forms part of a larger group or category.

Example

"The survey focused on a specific subset of voters who had recently moved to the district."

2

In mathematics, a set of which all the elements are also contained within another, larger set.

Example

"The set of all even integers is a subset of the set of all integers."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• verb

1

To divide or filter a dataset into a smaller, more specific group based on defined criteria (especially in computing and statistics).

Example

"The analyst subsetted the database to examine only transactions from the third quarter."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for subset

• Nearby Words

subseries
subservience
subservient
subset
subside
subsidence
subsidiary

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century as a mathematical term, combining the Latin prefix sub- ('under' or 'subordinate') with the English noun set ('a collection of distinct elements').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Subset. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/subset
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