subset
UK: ˈsʌb.set | US: ˈsʌb.set
n. a set that is part of a larger set
n. (mathematics) a set of which all the elements are contained in another set
The word "subset" combines the Latin prefix "sub-" (meaning "under" or "below") with the noun "set" (from Old English "sett," meaning a group or collection). In mathematics, it emerged in the late 19th century to describe a set entirely contained within another set, reflecting the hierarchical relationship implied by "sub-." The term retains its logical precision in both general and technical usage.
The even numbers form a subset of all integers.
Each subset of data was analyzed separately.
A proper subset excludes at least one element of the parent set.
The study focused on a small subset of participants.
In Venn diagrams, subsets are represented by circles within larger circles.