Subsuming

The act or process of including something within a larger or more comprehensive category or group; to absorb or incorporate something into something else. It implies the overshadowing or domination of a smaller element by a larger one, where the smaller element is no longer considered separately but as part of the encompassing whole. This can apply to ideas, concepts, categories, activities, or entities, highlighting the hierarchical relationship between the encompassing entity and the element it includes. The process involves a sense of assimilation and integration where the smaller is ultimately subordinate to the larger framework.

Subsuming meaning with examples

• The new department's functions, previously separate, were gradually subsuming the responsibilities of several smaller teams. Their individual identities dissolved into the larger organizational structure, creating efficiencies but also some anxieties about individual roles. This strategic change aimed to streamline operations.
• The philosopher argued that all ethical theories could be subsuming under a single, overarching principle of universal well-being. This meant that diverse moral perspectives, which previously held separate merit, were being evaluated by their relationship to this fundamental idea, simplifying a complicated subject.
• As the corporation acquired smaller businesses, their product lines became subsuming under the parent company's brand. This consolidation of branding strategies provided greater market penetration while also leading to job losses in the marketing departments of smaller businesses. This made it more profitable.
• During data analysis, the researcher realized that several specific survey responses could be subsuming within broader thematic categories, clarifying the complex data collected. This streamlined the analysis, provided clearer findings and making reporting quicker, and enhanced the report's clarity