What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
subspecies
Example
The African elephant has two subspecies: the savanna elephant and the forest elephant. [subspecies: noun]
Example
The researchers identified a new subspecies of bird in the Amazon rainforest. [subspecies: adjective]
race
Example
The marathon had participants from all races and nationalities. [race: noun]
Example
She won the race by a fraction of a second. [race: noun]
Example
The Kentucky Derby is a famous horse race that showcases different breeds and races of horses. [race: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Race is a more commonly used word than subspecies in everyday language, especially in social sciences and humanities. Subspecies is a technical term used primarily in biology and ecology.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between subspecies and race?
Subspecies is a more formal term than race, which is used in both formal and informal contexts.
