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.
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 Selections include more playful designs—such as Star Wars droids, Disney villains, Mister Rogers and Bugs Bunny—and commemorative issues marking the transcontinental railroad and the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025 If lawmakers embrace the industry's deregulatory agenda wholesale, passenger rights could vanish faster than chicken entrees on a transcontinental flight. Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 22 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 10 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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