n.
Pronunciation: ' s ə b- ˌ sp ē -sh ē z, -s ē z
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin
Date: 1699
: a subdivision of a species: as a : a category in biological classification that ranks immediately below a species and designates a population of a particular geographic region genetically distinguishable from other such populations of the same species and capable of interbreeding successfully with them where its range overlaps theirs b : a named subdivision (as a race or variety) of a taxonomic species c : SUBGROUP 1 <a political subspecies >
– sub · spe · cif · ic \ ˌ s ə b-spi- ' si-fik \ adjective