subzero

adjective

sub·​ze·​ro ˌsəb-ˈzē-(ˌ)rō How to pronounce subzero (audio)
-ˈzir-(ˌ)ō
variants or sub-zero
1
: registering less than zero on some scale (especially the Fahrenheit scale)
subzero temperatures
2
: characterized by or suitable for subzero temperatures
subzero winters
sub-zero snow boots
Here the altitude was almost a mile and a half above sea level and there was already hard frost in the mornings. With the first storm, the mornings would be subzero.Tony Hillerman

Examples of subzero in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson, a liberal Democrat who took office last year, announced his shelter eviction policy in November but delayed it multiple times as subzero temperatures gripped the city and advocates denounced the plans as cruel. Karin Brulliard, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 In February 2021, this system collapsed amidst days of subzero temperatures, freezing rain, and record snowfall around the state. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2024 The idea of building a pipeline to bring in gas from neighboring Croatia has been around for nearly 15 years, ever since Russia cut off gas deliveries through Ukraine to the Balkans in 2009 and left Sarajevo shivering for days in subzero temperatures. Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024 The frozen embryos were stored at subzero temperatures, freeze-burning the patient’s hand and causing the patient to drop the embryos on the floor, destroying them. Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024 How does a call from a woman at a bus stop in subzero temperatures not classify as high priority? Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2024 As the roads iced over in subzero temperatures, she was rushed 34 miles away to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Cincinnati. The Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2024 Storage and shipping have become major topics of concern with the approval of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines in 2020, both of which require subzero storage temperatures. Pat Bass, Md, Verywell Health, 19 Jan. 2024 The YouTube video was viewed more than 100 million times and fueled nationwide protests, occurring after hundreds of thousands of Mr. Navalny’s supporters had turned out across Russia to protest his arrest, braving subzero temperatures and the batons of riot police. Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subzero.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of subzero was in 1887

Dictionary Entries Near subzero

Cite this Entry

“Subzero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subzero. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

subzero

adjective
sub·​ze·​ro
ˌsəb-ˈzē-rō
: being or marked by temperature below zero

More from Merriam-Webster on subzero

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!