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

Other highways and byways followed pioneer trails, became the nation’s first transcontinental auto routes, or pushed the limits of engineering with groundbreaking bridges, mountain passes, and scenic stops. — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2026

For transcontinental flights, the Flagship First suites will be unavailable starting on March 28, 2027. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026

The Overland Mail Company launched the first transcontinental mail service to San Francisco, initiating the government’s mail delivery across the nation. — USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

An agreement could provide momentum for talks to renew the USMCA North American trade pact; US-Mexico talks have dragged on, and the White House has publicly opposed renewing the transcontinental deal. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 19 Aug. 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