/sub fam"euh lee, -fam"lee, sub"fam'euh lee, -fam'lee/ , n. , pl. subfamilies .
1. Biol. a category of related genera within a family.
2. Ling. (in the classification of related languages within a family) a category of a higher order than a branch. Cf. branch (def. 8), family (def. 14).
[ 1825-35; SUB- + FAMILY ]