subspecialty
|sub-spe-shal-ty|
/ˌsʌbˈspɛʃəlti/
smaller, more specific field within a specialty
Etymology
'subspecialty' originates from English, formed from the prefix 'sub-' (from Latin 'sub' meaning 'under') and the word 'specialty', which ultimately comes from Latin 'specialis' meaning 'particular'.
'specialty' entered English via Old French 'specialté' (from Late Latin 'specialitas'), derived from Latin 'specialis'; 'subspecialty' is a later English formation created by adding the prefix 'sub-' to 'specialty'.
Initially, 'specialty' meant 'a distinguishing quality' or 'particular field'; over time it came to mean 'a field of special study or practice', and 'subspecialty' evolved to mean 'a more narrowly focused area within a specialty'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a more narrowly focused area or division within a broader specialty, especially in medicine (e.g., pediatric cardiology is a subspecialty of pediatrics).
Many physicians choose a subspecialty to focus their research and clinical practice.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/04 05:11