transcontinental

adjective

trans·​con·​ti·​nen·​tal ˌtran(t)s-ˌkän-tə-ˈnen-tᵊl 

ˌtranz-

: extending or going across a continent

a transcontinental railroad

Examples of transcontinental in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Norfolk Southern is seeking to merge with Union Pacific and create the nation's first transcontinental railroad. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026

The race is bitterly divided on the issue of a transcontinental railroad. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026

The rise of major metropolitan centers around the world, for example, brought with it Baudelaire’s flâneur just as transcontinental railroads made narrative skips in space and time more legible. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

Former United flight attendant Sue Fogwell spent 22 years flying, including 17 years on premium transcontinental routes from JFK. — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for transcontinental

• coincidental
• developmental
• environmental
• experimental
• intersegmental
• nongovernmental
• unsentimental
• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental

Kids Definition

transcontinental

adjective

trans·​con·​ti·​nen·​tal ˌtran(t)s-ˌkänt-ᵊn-ˈent-ᵊl 

: extending or going across a continent

a transcontinental flight