subtropical

adjective

sub·​trop·​i·​cal ˌsəb-ˈträ-pi-kəl How to pronounce subtropical (audio)
variants or less commonly subtropic
ˌsəb-ˈträ-pik How to pronounce subtropical (audio)
Synonyms of subtropicalnext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Influenced by Barcelona legend Antoni Gaudí and American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Treister’s work in Miami blended modern architecture with art, sculpture and the lush subtropical South Florida landscape. — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026 Cyclospora has historically been found in subtropical climates, so for a long time, infections from food grown inside the United States were unheard of. — Dylan Scott, Vox, 27 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for subtropical

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subtropical was in 1829

Rhymes for subtropical

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Browse Nearby Words

subtribe
subtropical
subtropics
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Cite this Entry

“Subtropical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtropical. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

subtropical

adjective
sub·​trop·​i·​cal ˌsəb-ˈträp-i-kəl How to pronounce subtropical (audio)
ˈsəb-
variants also subtropic
-ˈträp-ik How to pronounce subtropical (audio)
: of, relating to, or being the regions bordering on the tropical zone
subtropical forests

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