intercontinental

adjective

in·​ter·​con·​ti·​nen·​tal ˌin-tər-ˌkän-tə-ˈnen-tᵊl 

1

: extending among continents or carried on between continents

2

: capable of traveling between continents

intercontinental ballistic missile

Examples of intercontinental in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the match came to an end, Ruca hit a Sol Snatcher out of nowhere to crush Lynch and end her reign as the women’s intercontinental champion. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026

Senegal Team News Arguably the most talented side in Africa, Senegal cruised through a qualifying group that also included DR Congo, which qualified for its first World Cup via the intercontinental playoff pathway. —Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026

The triad today consists of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), and nuclear-capable bombers. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 May 2026

The team previously lost against Uruguay in the intercontinental playoff final for the 2014 World Cup. —Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for intercontinental

• interdepartmental
• intergovernmental
• intragovernmental
• nonexperimental
• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental
• fundamental
• governmental
• incidental

Kids Definition

intercontinental

adjective

in·​ter·​con·​ti·​nen·​tal ˌint-ər-ˌkänt-ᵊn-ˈent-ᵊl 

1

: extending among or carried on between continents

intercontinental trade

2

: capable of traveling from one continent to another

an intercontinental ballistic missile