subcontinent
noun
sub·con·ti·nent
ˌsəb-ˈkän-tə-nənt 
-ˈkänt-nənt
: a large landmass smaller than a continent
especially
: a major subdivision of a continent
the Indian subcontinent
Examples of subcontinent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pakistan had been America’s Cold War ally on the subcontinent, but during the Global War on Terror, Washington came to see Islamabad as unreliable and instead drew closer to New Delhi.
—
Vaibhav Vats, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
Tibetan refugee communities in the Indian subcontinent, in particular, rely on financial assistance from India, the United States, and Europe to sustain their educational institutions, medical services, and cultural establishments.
—Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Emphasizing regional specificity The Indian Restaurant Association of America identified hyper-regional flavors as one of its top 2025 Indian restaurant trends as chefs dig into the hundreds of local cuisines that dot the subcontinent.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2025
His mother, who is from India, is a central figure in his connection to music from the subcontinent.
—Mandeep Rai, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subcontinent
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Vaibhav Vats, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
Tibetan refugee communities in the Indian subcontinent, in particular, rely on financial assistance from India, the United States, and Europe to sustain their educational institutions, medical services, and cultural establishments.
—Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Emphasizing regional specificity The Indian Restaurant Association of America identified hyper-regional flavors as one of its top 2025 Indian restaurant trends as chefs dig into the hundreds of local cuisines that dot the subcontinent.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2025
His mother, who is from India, is a central figure in his connection to music from the subcontinent.
—Mandeep Rai, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subcontinent
Cite this Entry
“Subcontinent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subcontinent. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
subcontinent
noun
sub·con·ti·nent
ˈsəb-ˈkänt-ᵊn-ənt
-ˈkänt-nənt,
-ˌkänt-
: a large area of land smaller than a continent
especially
: a major subdivision of a continent
the Indian subcontinent
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