Word
subset
Meanings
a smaller set or group that is part of a larger set or group
a smaller group of people or things chosen from a larger group for study, analysis, or action
Definition
A subset is a smaller group of things that is part of a larger set.
A subset is a set or group that contains only some members of a larger set. Every element in a subset also belongs to the bigger set. People use subset in math, data, and everyday grouping to show a part-within-a-whole relationship.
Examples
- This chart shows a subset of our customers in Europe.
- In math, {2, 4} is a subset of {1, 2, 3, 4}.
- We analyzed a subset of the survey responses to save time.
- Only a subset of students qualified for the scholarship.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use subset when they mean an equal group, but a subset must be part of a larger set (not the whole set).
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