What does "subdivision" mean?
A division into smaller pieces of something that has already been divided.
Subdivision
/ˈsʌbdɪvɪʒən/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A division into smaller pieces of something that has already been divided.
- Grammar: subdivision is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: section, abstraction, adjunct, administrative unit.
- Useful contrasts: coarsening, genus, simplification.
- Usage evidence: The subdivision allowed Tom to build a second house on his property.
How to use "subdivision"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "subdivision" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "subdivision" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "subdivision" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "subdivision" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "subdivision" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "section" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "subdivision", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A division into smaller pieces of something that has already been divided. countable, uncountable
"Formosa: Prewar conditions in Formosa were described in an article in FOREIGN COMMERCE WEEKLY of January 1, 1944. According to an announcement of the official Chinese News Service, there are to be 8 chief administrative subdivisions of Formosa. Although it is not known that their boundary lines will exactly coincide with those of the provinces under Japanese rule, this is probable. Names of the new hsien (districts), with corresponding Japanese province names in parentheses, are as follows: Taipei (Taihoku); Hsinchu (Shinchiku); Taichung (Taichu); Tainan (Tainan); Kaohsiung (Takao); Hwalienkan (Karenko); and Taitung (Taito). The Pescadores Islands form the eighth hsien. Nine cities will continue to be recognized as municipalities: Taipei (Taihoku); Taichung (Taichu); Tainan (Tainan); Chilung (Kiirun or Keelung); Kaohsiung (Takao); Hsinchu (Shinchiku); Chiayi (Kagi); Changhua (Shoka); and Pintung (Heito)."
- 2 the act of subdividing; division of something previously divided wordnet
- 3 Such a piece that has been divided. countable
"Work on one subdivision at a time."
- 4 a section of a section; a part of a part; i.e., a part of something already divided wordnet
- 5 A parcel of land that has been divided into lots. countable
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical) wordnet
- 7 A group of houses created by the same builder or in the same general area. countable
"They're putting in a new subdivision out past Black Ranch Road."
- 8 a division of some larger or more complex organization wordnet
- 9 A gated community located within a barangay. Philippines, countable, uncountable
"... By the 1970s, cattle rustling had fallen by the wayside, as tractors replaced carabaos and industrial estates and residential subdivisions supplanted rice fields as the mainstays of Cavite's suburban northern towns."
- 10 an area composed of subdivided lots wordnet
Verb
- 1 To separate something into smaller pieces. uncommon
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The subdivision allowed Tom to build a second house on his property."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "subdivision"?
Common synonyms include: section, abstraction, adjunct, administrative unit, alienation, analysis.
How do you use "subdivision" in a sentence?
The subdivision allowed Tom to build a second house on his property.
How do you pronounce "subdivision"?
Pronounced /ˈsʌbdɪvɪʒən/.
Etymology
From sub- + division.