contiguous

[kuhn-tig-yoo-uhs]

adjective

1. touching; in contact.

   Synonyms: adjoining

2. in close proximity without actually touching; near.

   Synonyms: adjacent

3. adjacent in time.

   contiguous events.

contiguous

/ kənˈtɪɡjʊəs, ˌkɒntɪˈɡjuːɪtɪ /

adjective

1. touching along the side or boundary; in contact

2. physically adjacent; neighbouring

3. preceding or following in time

Other Word Forms

• contiguously adverb
• contiguousness noun
• noncontiguous adjective
• noncontiguously adverb
• noncontiguousness noun
• uncontiguous adjective
• uncontiguously adverb
• uncontiguousness noun
• contiguity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contiguous¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin contiguus “touching, bordering upon,“ equivalent to prefix con- “with, together” + tig- (variant stem of -tingere, combining form of tangere “to touch”) + -uus adjective suffix; con-, tangent, contingent, contact; -ous, continuous

Word History and Origins

Origin of contiguous¹

C17: from Latin contiguus, from contingere to touch; see _contact

Example Sentences

Policing a forest almost as large as the contiguous U.S. is nearly impossible.

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The panel of 14 citizens works to create districts for state lawmakers and for members of Congress that are contiguous and roughly equal in population.

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E1 would cut any Palestinian link to East Jerusalem — where Palestinians hope to make their capital — and torpedo any chance of a contiguous Palestinian state.

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The district isn’t compact and is barely contiguous.

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The geographic center of the contiguous U.S. is Lebanon, Kan. Only one regional bank, the San Francisco Fed, is west of that point.

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Related Words

• adjoining 
• neighboring