subcontinent

American  

[suhb-kon-tn-uhnt, suhb-kon-] / sʌbˈkɒn tn ənt, ˈsʌbˌkɒn- /

noun

1. a large, relatively self-contained landmass forming a subdivision of a continent.

   The Himalayas arose when what is now the Indian subcontinent collided with the Eurasian Plate during the Cretaceous period.

2. a large landmass, such as Greenland, that is smaller than any of the usually recognized continents.

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subcontinent British  

/ ˌsʌbkɒntɪˈnɛntəl, sʌbˈkɒntɪnənt /

noun

1. a large land mass that is a distinct part of a continent, such as India is of Asia

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Other Word Forms

• subcontinental
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of subcontinent

First recorded in 1860–65; sub- + continent

Explanation

A large and distinct section of a continent can be called a subcontinent. Many subcontinents are separated from the rest of a continent by geographical features. One of the most well-known subcontinents is the Indian subcontinent, which was once the country of India, but today includes Pakistan and Bangladesh. This area makes up a large section of Asia, in the form of a long peninsula that sits on a separate tectonic plate from the rest of the continent. Alaska is another subcontinent, geographically separate from the rest of North America.

Example Sentences

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

"Within three hours flying time of the Gulf, you have the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, verging on China. It's a huge market," explains James Hogan, a former chief executive of Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Audrey Truschke’s single-volume work makes a bold attempt to capture thousands of years of cultural ferment on the Indian subcontinent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

The Pamir -- "a very special place... the roof of the world" -- particularly fascinates scientists, Stocker said, because it is a climatic crossroads, redirecting moist air from Europe towards the Indian subcontinent.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

Tribal and band societies in Eurasia were largely confined to the Arctic reindeer herders, the Siberian hunter-gatherers, and the hunter-gatherer enclaves in the Indian subcontinent and tropical Southeast Asia.

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