Synonyms

transitional

American

[tran-zish-uh-nl, ‐-sish‐] / trænˈzɪʃ ə nl, ‐ˈsɪʃ‐ /

Also transitionary

adjective

of or relating to a transition from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another: transitional housing for people with serious mental illness.

transitional governments;
transitional housing for people with serious mental illness.

Other Word Forms

nontransitional adjective
transitionally adverb

Etymology

Origin of transitional

First recorded in 1670–80; transition ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

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.

Additionally, studio apartments will be available to provide temporary housing for the kids’ birth parents and transitional housing for teens aging out of foster care.

From MarketWatch

It remains in a short-lived transitional period known as the pre-planetary stage, which lasts only a few thousand years.

From Science Daily

The following year, a transitional team lost seven of 12 Tests as they continued to tread water in attack.

From BBC

The consultation, which closes on 12 February, has sought views on possible transitional arrangements for people already on a route to settlement.

From BBC

Her oldest daughter is in transitional kindergarten and out of day care, meaning that Quintanilla had to start from scratch on the waitlist.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023