subarctic

American  

[suhb-ahrk-tik, -ahr-tik] / sʌbˈɑrk tɪk, -ˈɑr tɪk /

Sometimes sub-Arctic

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, similar to, or being the region immediately south of the Arctic Circle; subpolar.

---

subarctic British  

/ sʌbˈɑːktɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to latitudes immediately south of the Arctic Circle

---

subarctic Scientific  

/ sŭb′-ärk′tĭk,-är′tĭk /

1. Relating to the geographic area just south of the Arctic Circle. The subarctic region is the coldest part of the North Temperate Zone, characterized by warm but very brief summers, and bitterly cold winters. Little vegetation exists in this climate, as temperatures are extreme, ranging from below −30°C (−22°F) in the winter and as warm as 30°C (86°F) in the summer.

---

Etymology

Origin of subarctic

First recorded in 1850–55; sub- + Arctic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

subarctic

Prof Heide-Jørgensen, from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, told BBC News that the changes in the region were "probably the most radical we can see anywhere in the subarctic".

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

In this study, the researchers visited a subarctic grassland in Iceland that has undergone over half a century of geothermal warming, resulting in elevated soil temperatures compared to surrounding areas.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 25, 2024

Calendula is cultivated in gardens worldwide from subarctic regions to the tropics.

From National Geographic ● Feb. 7, 2024

They usually reside in Arctic and subarctic latitudes — and, when venturing south, they stick to high altitudes — because they rely on snowfall to survive.

From Salon ● Dec. 1, 2023

That's pretty impressive, when you consider it was exposed to near-vacuum and subarctic temperatures for over twenty-four hours.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir