subsoil

American  

[suhb-soil] / ˈsʌbˌsɔɪl /

noun

1. the bed or stratum of earth or earthy material immediately under the surface soil.

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subsoil British  

/ ˈsʌbˌsɔɪl /

noun

1. 1. Also called: undersoil.  the layer of soil beneath the surface soil and overlying the bedrock

   2. ( as modifier )

      a subsoil plough

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verb

1. (tr) to plough (land) to a depth below the normal ploughing level and so break up the subsoil

subsoil Scientific  

/ sŭb′soil′ /

1. In an ABC soil, the B horizon. The term was formerly used to mean the layer of earth below the humus or surface soil.

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Other Word Forms

• subsoiler
  noun

Etymology

Origin of subsoil

First recorded in 1790–1800; sub- + soil ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

subsoil

The catch is that a suitable subsoil is required, and that deep geothermal energy in particular can be hampered by high costs and uncertainties.

From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026

After scraping you’ll likely be left with subsoil, layers of clay or sand, that lack the life-giving nutrients plants require.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2025

Excavators are then used to dig out the top soil and subsoil.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2024

Taiwan’s religious diversity and vitality forms a kind of subsoil of the self-governed island’s identity and values.

From New York Times ● May 3, 2024

Two of the runs—the ones among the thorn trees—led straight down to burrows scooped out of the top of the chalk subsoil.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Related Words

• clay
• coast
• dirt
• dust
• gravel
• land
• mud
• sand
• shore
• surface
• terrain
• turf