Definition

A specific ability or talent that is part of a larger skill or competency.

Example

Learning to play the piano involves developing several subskills, such as reading music and finger placement.

Conversation

I’ve been trying to improve my cooking lately.

That’s great! What kind of skills are you focusing on?

I think I need to work on my knife skills as a subskill of cooking.

That makes sense; mastering the basics will help you a lot!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Subskill → It is formed from "sub-" (meaning under or below) and "skill" (from Old Norse *skil*, meaning ability or knowledge). The word "subskill" refers to a skill that is a subset or a specific area of a broader skill set.

Memory Tip

Think of a skill that is 'under' or a part of a larger ability — 'sub-' means under, and 'skill' refers to ability.

Visually Confused Words