subscript

/ˌsʌbˈskrɪpt/

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

1. noun

   a character or symbol set or printed or written beneath or slightly below and to the side of another character
   synonyms: inferior

   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
2. adjective

   written or printed below and to one side of another character
   synonyms: inferior

   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