subfamily

[ suhb-fam-uh-lee, -fam-lee, suhb-fam-uh-lee, -fam-lee ]
/ sʌbˈfæm ə li, -ˈfæm li, ˈsʌbˌfæm ə li, -ˌfæm li /

noun, plural sub·fam·i·lies.

Biology. a category of related genera within a family.
Linguistics. (in the classification of related languages within a family) a category of a higher order than a branch. Compare branch(def 8), family(def 14).

Origin of subfamily

First recorded in 1825–35; sub- + family

Example sentences from the Web for subfamily

British Dictionary definitions for subfamily

subfamily
/ (ˈsʌbˌfæmɪlɪ) /

noun plural -lies

biology a taxonomic group that is a subdivision of a family
any analogous subdivision, as of a family of languages

Medical definitions for subfamily

subfamily
[ sŭbfăm′ə-lē ]

n.

A taxonomic category ranking between a family and a genus.

Scientific definitions for subfamily

subfamily
[ sŭbfăm′ə-lē ]

A subdivision of a family of organisms, containing one or more genera. The names of subfamilies in the animal kingdom typically end in -inae, as in Cerambycinae, a subfamily of the longhorn beetle family Cerambycidae.