'subsolar' originates from Latin elements, specifically the prefix 'sub-' (Latin 'sub') meaning 'beneath' and 'solar' from Latin 'solaris' derived from 'sol' meaning 'sun'.

'subsolar' is a modern English formation combining the Latin prefix 'sub-' with the adjective 'solar' (from Latin 'solaris'); it was formed in scientific/technical English to describe positions relative to the sun.

Initially formed to mean 'beneath the sun' or 'under the sun'; this literal sense has been retained and specialized in astronomy and planetary science to denote the point or region directly under the sun.