subarctic

adjective

sub·​arc·​tic ˌsəb-ˈärk-tik 

-ˈär-tik

: of, relating to, characteristic of, or being regions immediately outside of the Arctic Circle or regions similar to these in climate or conditions of life

subarctic noun

Examples of subarctic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Since some Indigenous tribes from the Arctic and subarctic are known to eat maggots from putrefied meat, the researchers considered maggots a potential factor driving those isotope spikes. —Jay Kakade december 31, New Atlas, 31 Dec. 2025

Northwest Territories High in the subarctic, a ski plane touches down on the frozen surface of Blachford Lake. —Marc Telio, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2025

Following that storm, the typhoon's approach could push subarctic air into California, Oregon, and Washington state, the reported, which could bring winter conditions to some parts of those states, depending on the storm's track. —Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Oct. 2025

Wolverine populations are distributed throughout boreal regions in the northern hemisphere, including arctic and subarctic regions and western North America, the Wolverine Foundation noted. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 30 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subarctic

• antarctic
• holarctic
• arctic
• palaearctic
• palearctic
• subantarctic

Kids Definition

subarctic

adjective

sub·​arc·​tic ˌsəb-ˈärk-tik 

ˈsəb-ˈärt-ik

: of, relating to, or being regions immediately outside of the arctic circle or regions similar to these in climate or conditions of life

subarctic waters

subarctic plants