continuum

noun

con·​tin·​u·​um kən-ˈtin-yü-əm 

plural continua kən-ˈtin-yü-ə  also continuums

1

: a coherent whole characterized as a collection, sequence, or progression of values or elements varying by minute degrees

"good" and "bad" … stand at opposite ends of a continuum instead of describing the two halves of a line

—Wayne Shumaker

2

: the set of real numbers including both the rationals and the irrationals

broadly : a compact set which cannot be separated into two sets neither of which contains a limit point of the other

Examples of continuum in a Sentence

His motives for volunteering lie somewhere on the continuum between charitable and self-serving.

a continuum of temperatures ranging from very cold to very hot

Recent Examples on the Web

The federal proposal would slash disbursements to continuums of care and instead issue money to states as Emergency Solutions Grants, which are more restrictive. —Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 June 2025

These fall along a continuum from only one company in a market to thousands, but generally divide into four general groups of market behaviors: perfect competition, oligopolies, monopolistic competition and pure monopoly. —Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2025

The county also provides a full continuum of substance use treatment, including outpatient and residential programs, and medications for addiction treatment, according to the county. —Jason Green, Mercury News, 1 May 2025

Strengthen Sales Automation And Funnel Efficiency Automation technology, like software platforms and AI tools, is central to transforming organizational performance across the marketing-sales continuum. —Ken Braun, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin, noun derivative from neuter of Latin continuus continuous

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

continuum

noun

con·​tin·​u·​um kən-ˈtin-yə-wəm 

plural continuua

-yə-wə

also continuums

: something that is continuous and the same throughout and that is often thought of as a series of elements or values which differ by only tiny amounts

"light" and "dark" stand at opposite ends of a continuum