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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.


Etymology

Origin of Indian subcontinent

First recorded in 1895–1900


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Several scholars have described the destruction of Hindu temples and deities in the Indian subcontinent.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026

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

Some argued that although it was popularly assumed that tigers lived in Africa, this was a myth and they were native to Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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