subsurface

1 of 2

noun

sub·​sur·​face ˈsəb-ˌsər-fəs 

: earth material (such as rock) near but not exposed at the surface of the ground

subsurface

2 of 2

adjective

sub·​sur·​face ˌsəb-ˈsər-fəs 

: of, relating to, or being something located beneath a surface and especially underground

Synonyms

Adjective

• belowground
• subterranean
• underground

Examples of subsurface in a Sentence

Adjective

a sandy wasteland that gave little hint of its subsurface wealth

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The finding could change the way astronomers understand moons dominated by subsurface global oceans in our solar system, such as Jupiter’s moon Europa and planets beyond our solar system. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024

In time, however, the zone of habitability post-impact can increase, where new habitat is created within rocks and the subsurface for existing biota to colonize. —Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

Adjective

So Marco Mastrogiuseppe, a researcher on the Cassini team who had used instruments like RADAR to map subsurface water on Mars, decided to try something. —Liz Kruesi, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2015

An entire ocean’s worth is unlikely, but a significant amount of subsurface water isn’t. —John Wenz, Popular Mechanics, 8 Dec. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1775, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1875, in the meaning defined above