sub-Saharan

adjective

sub-Sa·​ha·​ran ˌsəb-sə-ˈher-ən 

-ˈhär-

: of, relating to, or being the part of Africa south of the Sahara

Examples of sub-Saharan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With a global sensibility, reach, and reporting hubs now spanning from Washington DC, Silicon Valley, Wall Street to sub-Saharan Africa and the Gulf, Semafor’s journalists around the world power its suite of daily first-read email briefings and signature live journalism convenings. —Rachel Keidan, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026

The Rockefeller Foundation’s vice president, power, Cassady Walters said the fastest path to cleaner air in sub-Saharan Africa runs through energy access, in an email. —Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Benin had over 15 million people in 2024, and like many sub-Saharan African countries, its population is overwhelmingly young. —Arkansas Online, 13 Apr. 2026

The business operates in 13 regions, from its native France to New Zealand, China, and sub-Saharan Africa. —Francesca Cassidy, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sub-Saharan

• lactoferrin
• acheron
• operon
• percheron
• polaron
• burin
• charon
• herren
• karen
• marron
• perron
• terran

Kids Definition

sub-Saharan

adjective

sub-Sa·​ha·​ran

ˌsəb-sə-ˈhar-ən, 

ˈsəb-, 

-ˈher-, 

-ˈhär-

: of, relating to, or being the part of Africa south of the Sahara