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

In return, North Korea was expected to refrain from nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile launches. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026

All four semifinalists have qualified for the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year, while Ghana and South Africa kept their qualification hopes alive by progressing to the World Cup intercontinental playoffs. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

The quarterfinal winners will secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup, while the losers will face off in a final set of matches to determine which two teams advance to FIFA’s intercontinental playoff next year. — Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Missile silos are fortified underground launch facilities designed to house intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Aug. 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