transitional

adjective

tran·​si·​tion·​al tran(t)-ˈsi-sh(ə-)nəl 

tran(t)-ˈsi-zh(ə-)nəl, 

tran-ˈzi-sh(ə-)nəl 

: marked by transition : involving, providing, or consisting of a passage, movement, or change from one state, condition, subject, place, etc., to another

a transitional passage in music

They are often transitional areas between water environments and dry land, and are populated by many trees and plants that can put up with the occasional flood …

—JoAnn Shroyer

The social worlds of neighborhood and village are now less important as transitional zones between home and nonhome settings.

—Theano S. Terkenli

… turning into a civilian coup, that … established a transitional government and prepared the way for multi-party elections.

—Larry Diamond

… an animal about the size of a turkey that they contend was a flightless bird, a transitional figure between some carnivorous dinosaurs and modern birds.

—John Noble Wilford

transitionally adverb

The problem then is to structure a sequence of reforms that is politically consistent with the social mores of the Soviet Union, economically coherent, and transitionally sound …

—Edgar L. Feige

Examples of transitional in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If Williams’ case remains in juvenile court, a judge could order his release and place him on juvenile probation — but with conditions appropriate for an adult, like placement in a transitional facility. —Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026

Shop styles like cozy sweaters for cold weather, jeans to wear with every look, and dresses for transitional seasons. —Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026

The sheepskin lining and insole keep toes toasty when temperatures drop—perfect for transitional seasons—while the sole provides lightweight, all-day support. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2026

The water-resistant fabric and lightweight feel make the Vero Moda Wales Jacket ideal for transitional weather, while the olive green shade layers beautifully over neutrals. —Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for transitional

• additional
• conditional
• nutritional
• positional
• traditional
• volitional
• compositional
• definitional
• depositional
• dispositional
• intuitional
• nontraditional

Medical Definition

transitional

adjective

tran·​si·​tion·​al

-ˈish-nəl, -ˈizh-ən-ᵊl

1

: of, relating to, or characterized by transition

2

: of, relating to, or being epithelium (as in the urinary bladder) that consists of several layers of soft cuboidal cells which become flattened when stretched (as when the bladder is distended)