sub-Saharan

adjective

sub-Sa·​ha·​ran ˌsəb-sə-ˈher-ən 

-ˈhär-

: of, relating to, or being the part of Africa south of the Sahara

Examples of sub-Saharan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Originally, the intent was to acquire mines in sub-Saharan Africa and send the minerals to new refineries in Saudi Arabia for processing. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 18 June 2026

Finally, Iris is a tribute to the native plant and flower of the sub-Saharan savannas that giraffes call home. — Usa Today, USA Today, 16 June 2026

Ghana was followed in the next year by the French colony of Guinea, which became independent on October 2, 1958, and within the next decade, more than 30 newly independent countries emerged in sub-Saharan Africa. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 June 2026

Things were not going well for Zaire (now DR Congo), the first sub-Saharan African team to play in a World Cup, in 1974. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sub-Saharan

• lactoferrin
• acheron
• operon
• percheron
• polaron
• charon
• herren
• karen
• marron
• perron
• terran

Kids Definition

sub-Saharan

adjective

sub-Sa·​ha·​ran

ˌsəb-sə-ˈhar-ən, 

ˈsəb-, 

-ˈher-, 

-ˈhär-

: of, relating to, or being the part of Africa south of the Sahara