subsurface

1 of 2

noun

sub·​sur·​face ˈsəb-ˌsər-fəs 

: earth material (such as rock) near but not exposed at the surface of the ground

subsurface

2 of 2

adjective

sub·​sur·​face ˌsəb-ˈsər-fəs 

: of, relating to, or being something located beneath a surface and especially underground

Synonyms

Adjective

• underground
• subterranean

Examples of subsurface in a Sentence

Adjective

a sandy wasteland that gave little hint of its subsurface wealth

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This is probably the result of CO2 escaping Europa's subsurface ocean through cracks in the ice, the researchers say. —Victoria Corless, Space.com, 23 July 2025

Instead of turning seven surrounding acres into a private golf course, for example, a run-of-the-mill, subsurface stormwater tank would have sufficed to meet stipulations that new developments cannot intensify flooding on neighboring properties. —Denise Hruby updated July 13, Miami Herald, 13 July 2025

Adjective

So Marco Mastrogiuseppe, a researcher on the Cassini team who had used instruments like RADAR to map subsurface water on Mars, decided to try something. —Liz Kruesi, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2015

An entire ocean’s worth is unlikely, but a significant amount of subsurface water isn’t. —John Wenz, Popular Mechanics, 8 Dec. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1775, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1875, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subsurface

• resurface
• hypersurface
• undersurface
• surface