a taxonomic group that is a subdivision of a kingdom
subkingdom in American English
(ˈsʌbˌkɪŋdəm)
noun
any main natural subdivision of the plant or animal kingdom
subkingdom in American English
(sʌbˈkɪŋdəm, ˈsʌbˌkɪŋ-)
noun
Biology
a category of related phyla within a kingdom
Word origin
[1815–25; sub- + kingdom]This word is first recorded in the period 1815–25. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: aesthetic, aggressive, norm, pullout, treadmillsub- is a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin (subject; subtract; subvert; subsidy). On this model, sub- is freely attached to elements of any origin and used with the meaning “under,” “below,”“beneath” (subalpine; substratum), “slightly,” “imperfectly,” “nearly” (subcolumnar; subtropical), “secondary,” “subordinate” (subcommittee; subplot)