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

The first transcontinental flight of an airship, the Navy’s enormous USS Shenandoah, terminated, rather precariously, at North Island’s Rockwell Field the following year. —Eric Duvall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026

If approved by federal regulators, the merger would create the nation's first transcontinental railroad company controlling nearly half of American rail freight. —Emma Hurt, AJC.com, 9 Jan. 2026

And the Citation Ascend is just one of many super midsized jets in the skies as of late, thanks to the category’s perfect blend of transcontinental range, manageable costs, and tech. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 7 Jan. 2026

All hail the transcontinental marketing skills of Timothée Chalamet. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 6 Jan. 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