Indian subcontinent

American  

[in-dee-uhn suhb-kon-tn-uhnt, suhb-kon-] / ˈɪn di ən sʌbˈkɒn tn ənt, ˈsʌbˌkɒn- /

noun

1. a subcontinent in southern Asia, physically occupied by Pakistan, the Republic of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, and geopolitically including Sri Lanka, an island republic off the southeast tip of India, and the Maldives, an archipelagic republic southwest of Sri Lanka.

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Etymology

Origin of Indian subcontinent

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Indian subcontinent

While it belonged to the extinct madtsoiidae family, researchers say it represents a unique lineage that originated on the Indian subcontinent.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 29, 2026

DIA’s brief to Congress didn’t mention the group on the Indian subcontinent at all.

From Slate ● Apr. 21, 2026

Energy-rich Turkmenistan, one of the world's most reclusive and sealed-off states, has stated its desire to diversify its exports towards Europe and the Indian subcontinent.

From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026

The Indian subcontinent already uses more mobile data per smartphone than any other region globally, according to a November report from telecom firm Ericsson.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026

Another area where local domestication appears to have followed the arrival of Southwest Asian founder crops is the Indus Valley region of the Indian subcontinent.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond