Meaning & use
subzero
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Below zero on a temperature scale, especially below zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Grammar: Not usually compared: you say 'subzero temperatures', not 'more subzero'.
Patterns
- subzero temperatures
- subzero weather
- below subzero
The forecast warns of subzero temperatures tonight.
Schools closed because of the subzero cold.
It felt subzero even with a heavy coat.
adjectivenot comparabletechnical
Below zero on any scale, such as Celsius.
Grammar: Same use as above, but can refer to Celsius in scientific or British contexts.
Patterns
- subzero temperatures
- subzero conditions
The experiment was conducted at subzero Celsius.
Water remains liquid at subzero temperatures under certain conditions.
Common combinations
- subzero temperatures
- The pipes froze in the subzero temperatures.
- subzero weather
- We stayed inside during the subzero weather.
- subzero cold
- The subzero cold made it hard to breathe.
Synonyms and how they differ
- below zero
- A more literal phrase; 'subzero' is more compact and often used in weather reports.
- freezing
- Means around 0°C (32°F), not necessarily below zero; 'subzero' is colder.
Opposites
Commonly confused: subzero or below freezing?
subzero vs below freezing
'Below freezing' means below 0°C (32°F), which is not the same as below zero on the Fahrenheit scale; 'subzero' in American English usually means below 0°F, a much colder point.
Practice
In everyday American English, what does 'subzero' most commonly mean?
Choose one answer.
In American usage, 'subzero' usually refers to temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit, which is much colder than 0°C or 32°F.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “subzero”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.