sub·con·ti·nent 
(sŭbkŏn′tə-nənt, sŭb-kŏn-)
(sŭbkŏn′tə-nənt, sŭb-kŏn-)n.
1. A large landmass, such as India, that is part of a continent but is considered either geographically or politically as an independent entity.
2. A large landmass, such as Greenland, that is smaller than a continent.
sub′con·ti·nental (-nĕntl) adj.