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

This is part of a series on maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the world’s fastest-growing population and accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

But about 400 travellers who had come from sub-Saharan Africa planned to remain on the border, ostensibly retaining hopes of making it to Europe. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Most of the migrants were Moroccans, while a smaller number were from sub-Saharan Africa. — Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2026

Senegalese migrant Cesse Aliou, 25, rested with a group of sub-Saharan men and women outside the nearby shelter. — Suman Naishadham, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 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