What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
monomer
Example
Glucose is a monomer that can combine with other glucose molecules to form starch. [monomer: noun]
Example
The monomer units of DNA are nucleotides. [monomer: adjective]
subunit
Example
The ribosome is composed of two subunits, each made up of RNA and proteins. [subunit: noun]
Example
Hemoglobin is a protein composed of four subunits, each containing a heme group. [subunit: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Subunit is more commonly used in biology and molecular biology, while monomer is more commonly used in chemistry and biochemistry.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between monomer and subunit?
Both monomer and subunit are technical terms used in scientific contexts and are considered formal language.
