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 Sixers were making their return transcontinental trip to Perth in the space of six days, having stumbled in the qualifier.
From Barron's • Jan. 25, 2026
Hunt Transport Services: The logistics company recorded lower quarterly revenue, as transcontinental load volumes declined.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
Hunt Transport Services’ stock dropped 1% after the logistics company recorded lower quarterly revenue, as its transcontinental load volumes declined.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
I’d finished laying the last transcontinental rail and pounded in the Golden Spike, and the audience was standing and hollering, and the next day, I’d be handing two Audubon prints to Mr. Powell.
From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt
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.
