Meaning & use

subcontinent

noun·Academic

A large, geographically distinct landmass that forms part of a larger continent.

See it in a sentence

India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh together make up much of the Indian subcontinent.

Geologists study how the subcontinent gradually collided with the rest of Asia millions of years ago.

A note on using this word

'Subcontinent' is used almost exclusively for South Asia in everyday English, though the term can apply elsewhere geologically.

Words with a similar meaning

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