neotropical

adjective

neo·​trop·​i·​cal ˌnē-ō-ˈträ-pi-kəl 

variants or less commonly neotropic

ˌnē-ō-ˈträ-pik 

, often Neotropical

: of, relating to, or constituting the tropical New World biogeographic region that extends south, east, and west from the central plateau of Mexico

Examples of neotropical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Guided by the paths of neotropical and post-cumbia, Colombian Eblis Álvarez (Meridian Brothers) and Mexican Camilo Lara (MIS) explore and expand upon the great sonic leap that resulted when Mexican musicians transitioned from traditional instruments to synthesizers. — Natalia Cano, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2026

By April, Neotropical migrants take center stage. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026

On holiday in the southern Pantanal, Daniela was keen to see the neotropical river otters that live in the Aquidauana River. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 4 Feb. 2026

Novel island species elucidate a species complex of Neotropical crocodiles. — Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

neo- + tropical

Note: Introduced, along with nearctic, ethiopian entry 2, and palearctic, by the British zoologist Philip Sclater (1829-1913) in "On the general Geographical Distribution of the Members of the Class Aves [read June 16th, 1857]," in Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Zoology, vol. 2 (1858), pp. 130-45.

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for neotropical

• subtropical
• intertropical
• topical
• tropical