# subdivision

/ˈsəbdɪˌvɪʒən/ (US) · /sˌʌbdɪvˈɪʒən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/subdivision
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a smaller part

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a smaller part of a larger group or section.

For teachers: a secondary division of a larger unit or category.

- Each chapter of the book has several subdivisions to help organize the information.
- The biological classification system uses several subdivisions, such as genus and species, to categorize organisms with high precision.

Usage: Often used in academic or technical writing to describe hierarchical structures.

### 2. housing development

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

an area of land divided into smaller pieces for building new houses.

For teachers: a tract of land partitioned into individual lots for sale or residential development.

- They bought a new house in a quiet subdivision outside the city.
- The local council approved the new subdivision despite concerns from residents about increased traffic on the narrow access roads.

Usage: Commonly used in North American and Philippine English to refer to residential neighborhoods.

## Examples

- The new housing subdivision is located just outside the city.
- The committee created a subdivision to handle the specific details of the upcoming charity event.
- Urban planners must ensure that every new residential subdivision includes adequate green space and access to public transportation to prevent total car dependency.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.