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

One critical ingredient often missing in Arizona’s summer months is the subtropical jet stream, a narrow band of strong winds about 6 miles above the ground. —Arlyssa D. Becenti, AZCentral.com, 13 Sep. 2025

By contrast, the plants pollinated by animals were related to subtropical palms, silk-cotton trees and other plants that typically grow in dry tropical climates. —Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Sand tiger sharks are a large, slow-moving shark species found in temperate and subtropical waters around the world, including the eastern United States, South Africa, and Australia. —Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Forecasters said the storm is expected to move across the open waters of the subtropical central Atlantic well east and northeast of Bermuda. —Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 25 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