Real Dictionary

subcontinent
A subcontinent is part of a larger continent, made up of a number of countries that form a large mass of land. The subcontinent is often used to refer to the area that contains India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

subcontinent in American English
a large land mass, smaller than that usually called a continent; often, a subdivision of a continent, regarded as a geographic or political entity
noun: a large, relatively self-contained landmass forming a subdivision of a continent

subcontinent in British English
noun: a large land mass that is a distinct part of a continent, such as India is of Asia