subtropical

adjective

sub·​trop·​i·​cal ˌsəb-ˈträ-pi-kəl 

variants or less commonly subtropic

ˌsəb-ˈträ-pik 

: 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

Florida's largest national park is a watery wilderness of incredible birds, subtropical swamps, and, yes, alligators. —Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2025

The grounds are a botanical marvel—lush gardens filled with subtropical plants frame whitewashed buildings that evoke traditional Andalusian architecture with contemporary sophistication. —Shelby Knick, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

Thanks to its subtropical climate, wildlife smuggling, and some poor management practices by residents and visitors, the state is now home to hundreds of non-native flora and fauna. —Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025

Almada was born in 1973 and raised in Villa Elisa, a small town (the population was some six thousand people at the time) in Entre Ríos, a subtropical province in the northeast, on the Uruguayan border, in an area that Argentineans call el litoral. —Graciela Mochkofsky, The New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subtropical

• intertropical
• microscopical
• neotropical
• topical
• tropical

Kids Definition

subtropical

adjective

sub·​trop·​i·​cal ˌsəb-ˈträp-i-kəl 

ˈsəb-

variants also subtropic

-ˈträp-ik 

: of, relating to, or being the regions bordering on the tropical zone

subtropical forests