Subscript - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT subscript /ˌsʌbˈskrɪpt/ IPA guide

Other forms: subscripts

A subscript is a character, usually a letter or number, that's printed slightly below and to the side of another character. Subscripts are commonly used in chemical formulas.

A scientist would write the formula for water, H2O, so that the 2 appears lower and smaller than the letters on either side of it. That's what subscript is for, to set certain characters apart from others. It's closely related to superscript, when a letter or number is printed above another character. Subscript comes from the Latin subscribere, "write underneath."

Definitions of subscript

noun a character or symbol set or printed or written beneath or slightly below and to the side of another character synonyms: inferior see moresee less antonyms: superscript a character or symbol set or printed or written above and immediately to one side of another character type of: character, grapheme, graphic symbol a written symbol that is used to represent speech
adjective written or printed below and to one side of another character synonyms: inferior see moresee less antonyms: superscript written or printed above and to one side of another character adscript written or printed immediately following another character and aligned with it show more antonyms...

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Vocabulary lists containing subscript

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