subcontinent

noun

sub·​con·​ti·​nent ˌsəb-ˈkän-tə-nənt 

-ˈkänt-nənt

: a large landmass smaller than a continent

especially : a major subdivision of a continent

the Indian subcontinent

subcontinental

ˌsəb-ˌkän-tə-ˈnen-tᵊl 

adjective

Examples of subcontinent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

First war over Kashmir Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan were born in August 1947 after the British ceded colonial control of the subcontinent, and months later, the two new countries were at war for control over the scenic Himalayan territory of Kashmir. —Asif Shahzad, USA Today, 7 May 2025

The division of the subcontinent, known as Partition, inspired the largest migration in history, with tens of millions of Hindus and Muslims crossing the new borders. —Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025

The threshold for Vitamin D deficiency is also based mostly on research involving Europeans and North Americans, leading to the claim that ninety per cent of Indians lack sufficient Vitamin D, despite the subcontinent’s abundant sunlight. —Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

The subcontinent’s slowing economy is also contributing to the sharp correction of its stock market in recent months. —Seema Mody, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subcontinent

• incontinent
• continent

Kids Definition

subcontinent

noun

sub·​con·​ti·​nent ˈsəb-ˈkänt-ᵊn-ənt 

-ˈkänt-nənt,

-ˌkänt-

: a large area of land smaller than a continent

especially : a major subdivision of a continent

the Indian subcontinent

subcontinental

ˌsəb-ˌkänt-ᵊn-ˈent-ᵊl 

adjective