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Definition of "subcontinent" [subcontinent]

  • A large landmass, such as India, that is part of a continent but is considered either geographically or politically as an independent entity. (noun)
  • A large landmass, such as Greenland, that is smaller than a continent. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "subcontinent" in a sentence
  • "Spanning the subcontinent from the Muslim invasions to the Partition, this is a magical novel about the shapes stories can take - turning into myths, appearing in history books and entering into our lives."
  • ""The subcontinent is pumping out thousands of brilliant technology graduates… and the [BC] Lower Mainland is cashing in on their savvy and expertise…""
  • "The Indo-Pakistan subcontinent is about two thirds the size of Canada, shaped like the head of an elephant, The forehead and the trunk are formed by India, while Pakistan forms the two ears: West Pakistan is four times the size of East Pakistan, but has rather less than three quarters of the population, The two portions of Pakistan are divided by some eight hundred miles of Indian territory."