subcompact

noun

sub·​com·​pact ˈsəb-ˈkäm-ˌpakt How to pronounce subcompact (audio)
: an automobile smaller than a compact

Examples of subcompact in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Kona is a subcompact crossover SUV built in the Ulsan, Korea assembly plant and sold worldwide by Hyundai. Tony Leopardo, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024 Yet this all-electric subcompact luxury SUV has the best safety features on the market and provides a particularly pleasant ride. Josh Max, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The interior in the HR-V is similarly chic and upscale for a subcompact crossover. Alex Nishimoto, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024 This very popular subcompact SUV class has many competitors and the Kia Seltos goes head to head with crossovers like the Honda HR-V, Subaru Crosstrek and the Toyota Corolla Cross. Tony Leopardo, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2024 That includes this autumn’s key launch of the electric Renault 5 subcompact, a nameplate that carries a lot of history for the brand. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2024 So, good fuel economy, clean emissions numbers and a low purchase price all lead up to a great buy for a new subcompact crossover SUV. Tony Leopardo, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2024 And with that, the subcompact class is effectively extinct now, bar the Mini. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 18 Aug. 2023 But compared to penny-pinching European subcompacts, the Volvo is a serious cut above in design and sophisticated performance. IEEE Spectrum, 8 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subcompact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subcompact was in 1960

Dictionary Entries Near subcompact

Cite this Entry

“Subcompact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subcompact. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

subcompact

noun
sub·​com·​pact ˈsəb-ˈkäm-ˌpakt How to pronounce subcompact (audio)
: an automobile smaller than a compact

More from Merriam-Webster on subcompact

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