subtropical

adjective

sub·​trop·​i·​cal ˌsəb-ˈträ-pi-kəl 

variants or less commonly subtropic

ˌsəb-ˈträ-pik 

: of, relating to, or being the regions bordering on the tropical zone

subtropical environment

subtropical grasses

Examples of subtropical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The other system being tracked by the NHC, which is no threat to Florida, was an area of low pressure named Invest 95L in the central subtropical Atlantic a few hundred miles northeast of Bermuda quickly moving north-northeast at 20-25 mph. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026

Still, Hawaii’s most important guardian against hurricanes is the North Pacific (or Hawaiian) high—a semipermanent subtropical high-pressure cell that sits northeast of the islands. — John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026

The world’s greenest places encompass a variety of ecosystems and habitats, from the mossy Hoh Rain Forest in Washington State to the subtropical Sapa Valley in northern Vietnam. — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026

August cloud cover is exceptionally rare thanks to the subtropical high-pressure system that dominates North Africa, although dust and haze are possible. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subtropical

• intertropical
• neotropical
• topical
• tropical

Kids Definition

subtropical

adjective

sub·​trop·​i·​cal ˌsəb-ˈträp-i-kəl 

ˈsəb-

variants also subtropic

-ˈträp-ik 

: of, relating to, or being the regions bordering on the tropical zone

subtropical forests