subsurface

1 of 2

noun

sub·​sur·​face ˈsəb-ˌsər-fəs 

: earth material (such as rock) near but not exposed at the surface of the ground

subsurface

2 of 2

adjective

sub·​sur·​face ˌsəb-ˈsər-fəs 

: of, relating to, or being something located beneath a surface and especially underground

Synonyms

Adjective

• belowground
• subterranean
• underground

Examples of subsurface in a Sentence

Adjective

a sandy wasteland that gave little hint of its subsurface wealth

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Another solar system moon, Saturn's Enceladus, was discovered in 2004 to have a subsurface ocean, which has now pegged the moon as a prime candidate for life beyond our planet. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

The objective is to turn an old subsurface coal mine into a largest photovoltaic solar farm to generate 401 megawatts of energy for 70,000 homes. —Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Adjective

So Marco Mastrogiuseppe, a researcher on the Cassini team who had used instruments like RADAR to map subsurface water on Mars, decided to try something. —Liz Kruesi, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2015

An entire ocean’s worth is unlikely, but a significant amount of subsurface water isn’t. —John Wenz, Popular Mechanics, 8 Dec. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1775, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1875, in the meaning defined above