1. a category within a larger genre, especially in literature, music, or film

Examples

• Science fiction has many subgenres, including cyberpunk and space opera.
• Heavy metal is a subgenre of rock music.
• The romantic comedy is a popular subgenre of film.
• Mystery novels can be divided into several subgenres like cozy mysteries and hard-boiled detective stories.
• Jazz fusion emerged as a subgenre in the late 1960s.
• Horror movies include subgenres such as slasher films and psychological thrillers.