supercontinent
noun
su·per·con·ti·nent
ˈsü-pər-ˌkän-tə-nənt 
-ˌkänt-nənt
: a hypothetical former large continent from which other continents are held to have broken off and drifted away
Examples of supercontinent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Namely, the landscape of publishing has shifted like the supercontinent Pangaea, compared with the continents today.
—
Michael Mrak, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023
Britain and Ireland share a geological history, both having been assembled from bits of an ancient continent called Laurentia and a scrap of crust called Avalonia during the Caledonian Orogeny—one of the mountain-building events that stitched together the supercontinent Pangaea.
—Elise Cutts, Discover Magazine, 29 June 2023
In the Permian, the planet's continents started to squish together to form the supercontinent Pangea, and the era ended with the largest mass extinction in Earth's history.
—Rasha Aridi, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Nov. 2021
Before Africa and South America became two distinct places, scientists believe that the land was connected, and formed the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana.
—Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 1 Aug. 2023
Earth’s land mass was then mostly a single Pangea supercontinent.
—Jeanne Timmons, New York Times, 22 May 2023
Geologists think these slabs are ancient remnants of seafloor from the Tethys Ocean, which was located between the supercontinents of Laurasia and Gondwana more than 200 million years ago.
—Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 26 June 2023
The world may have a new supercontinent within 200 million to 300 million years as the Pacific Ocean shrinks and closes.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 7 Oct. 2022
At the end of the Triassic Period, just over 200 million years ago, the supercontinent Pangaea was breaking apart.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 23 Mar. 2021
See More
Michael Mrak, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023
Britain and Ireland share a geological history, both having been assembled from bits of an ancient continent called Laurentia and a scrap of crust called Avalonia during the Caledonian Orogeny—one of the mountain-building events that stitched together the supercontinent Pangaea.
—Elise Cutts, Discover Magazine, 29 June 2023
In the Permian, the planet's continents started to squish together to form the supercontinent Pangea, and the era ended with the largest mass extinction in Earth's history.
—Rasha Aridi, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Nov. 2021
Before Africa and South America became two distinct places, scientists believe that the land was connected, and formed the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana.
—Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 1 Aug. 2023
Earth’s land mass was then mostly a single Pangea supercontinent.
—Jeanne Timmons, New York Times, 22 May 2023
Geologists think these slabs are ancient remnants of seafloor from the Tethys Ocean, which was located between the supercontinents of Laurasia and Gondwana more than 200 million years ago.
—Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 26 June 2023
The world may have a new supercontinent within 200 million to 300 million years as the Pacific Ocean shrinks and closes.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 7 Oct. 2022
At the end of the Triassic Period, just over 200 million years ago, the supercontinent Pangaea was breaking apart.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 23 Mar. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'supercontinent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1960, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near supercontinent
Cite this Entry
“Supercontinent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supercontinent. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
supercontinent
noun
su·per·con·ti·nent
ˈsü-pər-ˌkänt-ᵊn-ənt
-ˌkänt-nənt
: a former large continent which is assumed to have existed and from which other continents broke off and drifted away
More from Merriam-Webster on supercontinent
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for supercontinent
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about supercontinent
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share