Definition of intercontinental
1 : extending among continents or carried on between continents
2 : capable of traveling between continents intercontinental ballistic missile
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of intercontinental from the Web
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They were originally designed to serve as long-range, high-altitude intercontinental nuclear bombers that could strike deep into the Soviet Union.
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The Pentagon this week claimed success in intercepting a mock intercontinental ballistic missile.
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WASHINGTON -- New video released by the Pentagon shows the successful test of a missile defense system meant to protect against an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) under development by North Korea.
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Despite the success, the $244 million test didn’t confirm that under wartime conditions the US could intercept an intercontinental-range missile fired by North Korea.
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The U.S. military destroyed a mock intercontinental ballistic missile thousands of miles over the Pacific for the first time Tuesday, a step forward for a missile-defense program that has taken on new significance in light of North Korean threats.
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That means it is meant to approach the warhead speed of a true intercontinental ballistic missile.
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North Korea is still thought to be several years from its goal of being able to target U.S. mainland cities with a nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile.
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Preparing for North Korea’s growing threat, the Pentagon will try to shoot down an intercontinental-range missile for the first time in a test next week.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intercontinental'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Circa 1855
First Known Use of intercontinental
circa 1855
INTERCONTINENTAL Defined for English Language Learners
intercontinental
playDefinition of intercontinental for English Language Learners
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: traveling or occurring between continents
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: capable of traveling from one continent to another
Learn More about intercontinental
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Spanish Central: Translation of intercontinental Nglish: Translation of intercontinental for Spanish speakers
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