continent

1 of 2

noun

con·​ti·​nent ˈkän-tə-nənt 

ˈkänt-nənt

1

a

: one of the six or seven great divisions of land on the globe

b

capitalized : the continent of Europe

—used with the

2

: mainland

3

archaic : container, confines

4

archaic : epitome

continent

2 of 2

adjective

con·​ti·​nent ˈkän-tə-nənt 

1

: exercising continence

Most children are continent by the age of three.

2

obsolete : restrictive

continently adverb

Synonyms

Noun

• landmass
• main
• mainland

Adjective

• abstemious
• abstentious
• abstinent
• self-abnegating
• self-denying
• sober
• temperate

Examples of continent in a Sentence

Noun

The book provides information on hotels in Britain and on the Continent.

Europe and Asia are sometimes considered together to be one continent.

Adjective

Most children are continent by age three.

a religious sect that expects its unmarried members to be completely celibate and its married adherents to maintain continent relationships

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The trips are more ambitious — one vessel left downtown Miami in December for 274 days while another will depart Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale this December and visit five continents. —Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2024

The United States has counterterrorism programs in some 80 countries on six continents. —Oona A. Hathaway, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

(senses 1-2) borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, "land forming part of a continuous mass (as opposed to an island)," borrowed from Latin continent-, continens (short for terra continens), from continent-, continens, adjective, "uninterrupted, continuous, forming part of a continuous mass," from present participle of continēre "to hold together, restrain, have as contents"; (senses 3 & 4) probably borrowed from Medieval Latin continentia "container, content, tenor (of a document)," noun derivative of Latin continent-, continens, present participle of continēre — more at contain

Note: The regular outcome of Medieval Latin continentia following the rules for adopting such nouns in English would have been continence, but as this word was already in use as an abstract noun, writers may have resorted to continent. Note continent in Middle English used by the translator of Chauliac's Grande Chirurgie in the sense "content."

Adjective

Middle English contynent "abstemious, refraining from sexual intercourse," borrowed from Middle French continent, borrowed from Medieval Latin continent-, continens, going back to Latin, "restrained, not indulging in excesses," from present participle of continēre "to hold together, restrain, have as contents" — more at contain

First Known Use

Noun

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing continent

• dark continent

Kids Definition

continent

noun

con·​ti·​nent

ˈkänt-ᵊn-ənt,

ˈkänt-nənt

1

: one of the great divisions of land (as North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, or Antarctica) on the globe

2

capitalized : the continent of Europe

Medical Definition

continent

adjective

con·​ti·​nent ˈkänt-ᵊn-ənt 

: exercising continence

continently adverb