subarctic

adjective

sub·​arc·​tic ˌsəb-ˈärk-tik 

-ˈär-tik

: of, relating to, characteristic of, or being regions immediately outside of the arctic circle or regions similar to these in climate or conditions of life

subarctic noun

Examples of subarctic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Arctic and subarctic regions are warming at roughly twice the global average, and as snow and ice melt earlier and vegetation grows, more heat is absorbed by the ground, accelerating thawing. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025

Boreal forests, also known as taiga, are the world’s biggest biome and cover subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. —Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2025

Arctic and subarctic regions are warming at two to three times the rate of the rest of the Earth because as ice melts away, the darker surfaces that get revealed absorb more sunlight. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2024

In it, a young couple suffers a miscarriage while vacationing on a haunting subarctic island. —Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

subarctic

adjective

sub·​arc·​tic ˌsəb-ˈärk-tik 

ˈsəb-ˈärt-ik

: of, relating to, or being regions immediately outside of the arctic circle or regions similar to these in climate or conditions of life

subarctic waters

subarctic plants