tropical

adjective

trop·​i·​cal

for sense 1

ˈträ-pi-kəl 

for sense 2

ˈtrō- 

also

ˈträ- 

1

a

: of, relating to, occurring in, or suitable for use in the tropics

tropical forests

a tropical disease

b

: of, being, or characteristic of a region or climate that is frost-free with temperatures high enough to support year-round plant growth given sufficient moisture

tropical Florida

2

: figurative sense 2

tropically

ˈträ-pi-k(ə-)lē 

ˈtrō-

adverb

Synonyms

• subtropical
• equatorial
• subtropic

Examples of tropical in a Sentence

wanted to escape winter and visit some tropical location where freezing to death would not be a possibility

an author given to high-flown tropical phrasings and convoluted symbology

Recent Examples on the Web

Thrive’s reef-safe SPF 50 mineral formula offers strong protection with minimal white cast, perfect for South America’s varied climates—from snowy peaks to tropical beaches. —Mariana Zapata, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2025

The earthy flavor of the matcha is paired with almond bitters, lime for tartness and pineapple juice for a tropical note. —Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a tropical depression is a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained surface winds of 38 miles per hour or lower. —Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025

Its bananas are small and not as sweet as those of the tropical varieties. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 21 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) Middle English tropikal "pertaining to the three circles of the celestial sphere (the two tropics and the equinoctial circle)," from tropik tropic entry 1 + -al -al entry 1; (sense 2) Latin tropicus "pertaining to figures of speech" (borrowed from Greek tropikós, from trópos "figurative expression, trope" + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tropical

• tropical aquarium
• tropical cyclone
• tropical fish
• tropical oil
• tropical rainforest
• tropical sprue
• tropical storm

Rhymes for tropical

• topical
• intertropical
• microscopical
• neotropical
• subtropical

Kids Definition

tropical

adjective

trop·​i·​cal ˈträp-i-kəl 

: of, relating to, occurring in, or used in the tropics

tropically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb