continental

American  

[kon-tn-en-tl] / ˌkɒn tnˈɛn tl /

adjective

1. of or of the nature of a continent.

2. (usually initial capital letter) of or relating to the mainland of Europe, to Europeans, or to European customs and attitudes.

3. (initial capital letter) of or relating to the 13 original American colonies during and immediately after the American Revolution.

4. of or relating to the continent of North America.

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noun

1. (initial capital letter) a soldier of the Continental Army in the American Revolution.

2. a piece of paper currency issued by the Continental Congress during the American Revolution.

3. a small amount.

   advice that's not worth a continental.

4. an inhabitant of a continent.

5. (usually initial capital letter) an inhabitant of the mainland of Europe.

Continental British  

/ ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntəl /

adjective

1. of or characteristic of Europe, excluding the British Isles

2. of or relating to the 13 original British North American colonies during and immediately after the War of American Independence

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noun

1. (sometimes not capital) an inhabitant of Europe, excluding the British Isles

2. a regular soldier of the rebel army during the War of American Independence

3. history a currency note issued by the Continental Congress

Other Word Forms

• Continentalism noun
• Continentalist noun
• continentally adverb
• noncontinental adjective
• precontinental adjective

Etymology

Origin of continental

First recorded in 1750–60; continent + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Bad Bunny demurred on touring the continental U.S. for fear of ICE raids at his shows, opting for a lengthy residence in his home territory of Puerto Rico instead.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026

Or the intention to work together on the joint procurement of armaments now European leaders have promised the US they'll do more for their own continental defence.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

WTI barrels, by contrast, sit in the continental United States and flow through pipelines to Gulf Cost refineries, said Germini, who’s also publisher of the “Energy Pipeline” newsletter on Substack.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

It is now believed to possess some 50 warheads, and it tests ICBMs that will one day be able to reach the continental U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

And the one big thing he knew was that America’s future as a nation lay to the West, in its development over the next century of a continental empire.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• global
• multicultural