transcontinental
Americanadjective
-
passing or extending across a continent.
a transcontinental railroad.
-
on the other, or far, side of a continent.
adjective
-
crossing a continent
-
on or from the far side of a continent
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of transcontinental
An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; trans- + continental
Explanation
When you fly from New York to California, you can describe your flight as transcontinental, crossing the continent of North America. Use the adjective transcontinental when something goes from one side of a continent to the other, like the European transcontinental railroad called the Orient Express or an airplane flight across Asia. In the nineteenth century, the First Transcontinental Railroad was built in the United States. As well as being the first railway to cross an entire continent, it also marked the coining of the word transcontinental, from trans, "across," and continental, "of a continent."
Vocabulary lists containing transcontinental
Power Prefix: trans-
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American History I
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STAAR U.S. History 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sometimes, all you need is a touch of nostalgia, and San Marino's here to show why with the transcontinental disco grooves of Superstar.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
The pricing structure will launch later this month in select markets for long-haul international, transcontinental U.S. and select Hawaii flights, with a broader rollout expected later this year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Hunt Transport Services: The logistics company recorded lower quarterly revenue, as transcontinental load volumes declined.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
The transcontinental merger is the rail industry’s main hope for reviving freight volumes, which have largely stagnated in recent years.
From Barron's • Dec. 29, 2025
It had been spreading quietly along the Kinshasa Highway, a transcontinental road that wanders across Africa from east to west and passes along the shores of Lake Victoria within sight of Mount Elgon.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
