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• continental
  continental

  adjective

  of or of the nature of a continent.
• Continental
  Continental

  adjective

  of or characteristic of Europe, excluding the British Isles

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

At the same time, the higher and stronger sun is warming up continental Europe and winds from the south can easily bring surges of heat.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

The superstar demurred on performing in the continental U.S. because of the raids, instead performing a lengthy Puerto Rican residency.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026

Their findings show that a large body of relatively warm water, known as 'circumpolar deep water', has expanded and gradually moved closer to the Antarctic continental shelf over the past two decades.

From Science Daily • Apr. 30, 2026

With continental inflation tame, the European Central Bank looked to be headed prewar toward interest rates too low for lenders to earn healthy margins.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Agriculture occurred in as much as two-thirds of what is now the continental United States, with large swathes of the Southwest terraced and irrigated.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• global
• multicultural