subzero

adjective

sub·​ze·​ro ˌsəb-ˈzē-(ˌ)rō 

-ˈzir-(ˌ)ō

variants or sub-zero

1

: registering less than zero on some scale (especially the Fahrenheit scale)

subzero temperatures

2

: characterized by or suitable for subzero temperatures

subzero winters

sub-zero snow boots

Here the altitude was almost a mile and a half above sea level and there was already hard frost in the mornings. With the first storm, the mornings would be subzero.

—Tony Hillerman

Examples of subzero in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After 72 days stranded, they were finally rescued, but only 16 people survived the dangerous conditions, including subzero temperatures, avalanches, and starvation. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024

So, when more than a million Ukrainians took to the streets in 2013-2014, spending months outdoors in subzero temperatures and often under brutal police attack to protest, this was not — in Putin’s view — an expression of popular will, but a coup d’etat orchestrated by the CIA. —Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 12 Sep. 2024

Doing action scenes in subzero weather is not easy and not good for your health, that's for sure. —EW.com, 1 Aug. 2024

Experts have warned that power plants have suffered too much damage to be repaired before subzero temperatures set in, around December, which could plunge many people into dangerously cold living conditions. —Oleksandra Mykolyshyn, New York Times, 5 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

subzero

adjective

sub·​ze·​ro

ˌsəb-ˈzē-rō

: being or marked by temperature below zero