subsume

Name: subsume, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/səbˈsjuːm/

//səbˈsjuːm// verb

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“subsume” is an uncommon English word, ranked #98,767 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#98,767
frequency rank, English: 7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To place (any one cognition) under another as belonging to it; to include or contain something else.

Key facts for subsume
Property	Value
Headword	subsume
Language	English
Part of speech	Verb
IPA	/səbˈsjuːm/
Letters	7
Frequency rank	#98,767
Misspellings tracked	0
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “subsume” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). subsume lands here:

#98,767

#1#100#1K#10K#100K

← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for subsume is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /səbˈsjuːm/. Corpus data places it at rank #98,767 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for subsume in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin subsūmere, from sub- + sūmō (“I take”). Compare English consume. The correct English form is subsume, spelled S-U-B-S-U-M-E.

Definition

1
To place (any one cognition) under another as belonging to it; to include or contain something else.
2
To consider an occurrence as part of a principle or rule.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin subsūmere, from sub- + sūmō (“I take”). Compare English consume.

This word in other languages

subsumir(Español)subsumer(Français)einordnen(Deutsch)classificar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "subsume"?

"subsume" is spelled S-U-B-S-U-M-E. The IPA pronunciation is /səbˈsjuːm/.

What does "subsume" mean?

As a verb, "subsume" means: To place (any one cognition) under another as belonging to it; to include or contain something else.

How do you pronounce "subsume"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "subsume" is /səbˈsjuːm/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.

What is the origin of the word "subsume"?

Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin subsūmere, from sub- + sūmō (“I take”). Compare English consume. See the full etymology section above for more details.

Is PlainSpell free to use?

Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “subsume”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

The one correct English spelling is S-U-B-S-U-M-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /səbˈsjuːm/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.