tropical

adjective

trop·​i·​cal

for sense 1

ˈträ-pi-kəl 

for sense 2

ˈtrō- 

also

ˈträ- 

1

a

: of, relating to, occurring in, or suitable for use in the tropics

tropical forests

a tropical disease

b

: of, being, or characteristic of a region or climate that is frost-free with temperatures high enough to support year-round plant growth given sufficient moisture

tropical Florida

2

: figurative sense 2

tropically

ˈträ-pi-k(ə-)lē 

ˈtrō-

adverb

Synonyms

• equatorial
• low

Examples of tropical in a Sentence

wanted to escape winter and visit some tropical location where freezing to death would not be a possibility

an author given to high-flown tropical phrasings and convoluted symbology

Recent Examples on the Web

Surprisingly, the tropical climate didn’t pose any great difficulty to a guy covered head to toe in fur. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2025

Spend the rest of your time in romantic bliss by lounging by the tropical pool, strolling the tropical garden, sailing on a sunset sail, and hiking to the top of the legendary Sweetheart Rock (PuuPehe) for sunset. —Devorah Lev-Tov, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2025

Or for complex seafood dishes, the mom-and-pop Leche de Tigre Cocina Urbana — a few blocks north — is a buoyant beach party where every plate tastes fresh from the Pacific Coast, with layers of seafood and tropical fruit, cilantro and chile. —Freda Moon, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025

The collection, for men and women, features 16 pieces of swimwear and casual sportswear inspired by the island of Koh Samui in Thailand, the tropical destination that will be featured in the show. —Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) Middle English tropikal "pertaining to the three circles of the celestial sphere (the two tropics and the equinoctial circle)," from tropik tropic entry 1 + -al -al entry 1; (sense 2) Latin tropicus "pertaining to figures of speech" (borrowed from Greek tropikós, from trópos "figurative expression, trope" + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tropical

• tropical aquarium
• tropical cyclone
• tropical fish
• tropical oil
• tropical rainforest
• tropical sprue
• tropical storm

Kids Definition

tropical

adjective

trop·​i·​cal ˈträp-i-kəl 

: of, relating to, occurring in, or used in the tropics

tropically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb