transcontinental

adjective

trans·​con·​ti·​nen·​tal ˌtran(t)s-ˌkän-tə-ˈnen-tᵊl How to pronounce transcontinental (audio)
ˌtranz-
: extending or going across a continent
a transcontinental railroad

Examples of transcontinental in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
American Airlines still flies a limited number of international and transcontinental routes with a dedicated first-class cabin, over and above their lie-flat business-class seats, but the airline plans to phase those out in the near future. Zach Wichter, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025 Matt Nagy slipped into his first-class sleeper seat with a scowl on his face, a grim outing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on his mind and a long, transcontinental flight in his immediate future. Michael Silver, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 The town dates back to the 1860s, when Union Pacific's nearby coal deposits lured thousands of immigrant laborers to the mines and railyards as the company neared the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Jenna McMurtry, NPR, 28 Sep. 2025 The partnership is aimed at strengthening the companies' services as the freight rail industry becomes increasingly competitive — particularly as Union Pacific moves ahead with its plans to acquire Norfolk Southern to create a transcontinental railroad. Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for transcontinental

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of transcontinental was in 1853

Cite this Entry

“Transcontinental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transcontinental. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

transcontinental

adjective
trans·​con·​ti·​nen·​tal ˌtran(t)s-ˌkänt-ᵊn-ˈent-ᵊl How to pronounce transcontinental (audio)
: extending or going across a continent
a transcontinental flight

More from Merriam-Webster on transcontinental

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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