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

With heavy humidity, Hong Kong’s subtropical climate makes already hot days feel even more intense. —Jared Formanek, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025

Instructor and researcher Mila Berhane was encouraging local farmers to try planting Hibiscus sabdariffa (also known as Jamaica sorrel), a subtropical native African species that’s long been grown throughout Asia and the Americas but is still gaining traction in the U.S. —Maggie Heyn Richardson, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025

Behind the beach, subtropical gardens bloom with palms and flame-red proteas—nurtured by Tresco’s rare microclimate. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

Along the east coast, the subtropical Bay of Islands is home to a large population of the indigenous Māori people. —Jimmy Carroll, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subtropical

• intertropical
• microscopical
• 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