tropical

adjective

trop·​i·​cal

for sense 1

ˈträ-pi-kəl 

for sense 2

ˈtrō- 

also

ˈträ- 

1

a

: of, relating to, occurring in, or suitable for use in the tropics

tropical forests

a tropical disease

b

: of, being, or characteristic of a region or climate that is frost-free with temperatures high enough to support year-round plant growth given sufficient moisture

tropical Florida

2

: figurative sense 2

tropically

ˈträ-pi-k(ə-)lē 

ˈtrō-

adverb

Synonyms of tropical

• subtropical
• equatorial

Examples of tropical in a Sentence

wanted to escape winter and visit some tropical location where freezing to death would not be a possibility

an author given to high-flown tropical phrasings and convoluted symbology

Recent Examples on the Web

Produced alongside Dave 1, the record moves through analog funk, synth-pop, darkwave, dub, tropical textures and the cinematic residue of Mexico City nightlife. — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026

Every gravity-defying pool that has followed-from those perched on tropical clifftops to the ones suspended in Dubai skyscrapers-owes something to that oceanfront plunge in the South of France. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026

Here’s a bonus — this tropical fuse with the jet stream will be enough to string out some snow across the high peaks of the Sierra, with some even working down to places like South Lake Tahoe. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026

In the Atlantic, the weakest of these systems are called tropical depressions. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) Middle English tropikal "pertaining to the three circles of the celestial sphere (the two tropics and the equinoctial circle)," from tropik tropic entry 1 + -al -al entry 1; (sense 2) Latin tropicus "pertaining to figures of speech" (borrowed from Greek tropikós, from trópos "figurative expression, trope" + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tropical

• tropical aquarium
• tropical cyclone
• tropical fish
• tropical oil
• tropical rainforest
• tropical sprue
• tropical storm

Rhymes for tropical

• topical
• intertropical
• neotropical
• subtropical

Kids Definition

tropical

adjective

trop·​i·​cal ˈträp-i-kəl 

: of, relating to, occurring in, or used in the tropics

tropically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb