How to Memorize

subsume - include

Analysis

To ‘subsume’ somebody or something means to incorporate them into something larger or more comprehensive rather than consider them separately. It is a formal word that is typically used in a professional context where merging of people or things is a regular occurrence. Can have both positive and negative connotations.

Example(s)

1. We are currently putting a plan in place to subsume our struggling rival through a merger.

2. I prefer the business to be run with individual divisions operating with a degree of autonomy rather than the subsumption of all within a single department.

3. Under Law, it is common to subsume a wide range of offences under a particular category, such as ‘robbery’.