1. smaller divisions or phases within a larger stage of development or process

Examples

• The project was divided into three main stages, each containing several substages.
• Researchers identified distinct substages in the child’s language development.
• The manufacturing process includes multiple substages for quality control.
• Each substage of the experiment required careful documentation.
• The software development cycle has substages for testing and debugging.
• Scientists mapped the substages of cellular division in detail.