transitional

adjective tran·si·tion·al \ tran(t)-ˈsish-nəl , tran(t)-ˈsizh- , tran-ˈzish- ; tran(t)-ˈsi-shə-nᵊl , tran-ˈzi- , -zhə- \

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Definition of transitional

: 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

Recent Examples of transitional from the Web

Makeovers tend to take these spaces from too dated or too traditional to a more transitional or contemporary aesthetic.

— diane cowen, Houston Chronicle, "10 things you can do to add comfort, style to your home," 5 June 2018
The government had started a dialogue, mediated by the Catholic Church, with the protesters, who have been demanding a transitional government and justice for those killed.

— sarah kinosian, Teen Vogue, "Nicaragua's Students Have Spent Months Protesting President Daniel Ortega," 4 June 2018
McNicholas became a transitional deacon, signifying he’s one year away from priesthood.

— carole carlson, Post-Tribune, "Diocese of Gary gains new priest, deacon," 2 June 2018
Our weekly gathering for the homeless community (called the Hub) measures impact through transitional housing placement.

— lisa deaderick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Serving the community coffee and a space of its own," 2 June 2018
Many of the entries are transitional, transformational ideas, not just the worst storms, the hottest day.

— National Geographic, "The Extraordinary Ways Weather Has Changed Human History," 30 May 2018
Russell stepped in as special counsel last November as part of a transitional management team installed following the Aug. 5 flood.

— beau evans, NOLA.com, "Jade Brown Russell named acting Sewerage & Water Board executive director," 24 May 2018
In the meantime, Wenger always kept the club in and around the top of the English game during that transitional phase.

— SI.com, "Passion, Values & Class: Why Mikel Arteta Is the Right Man to Succeed Arsene Wenger at Arsenal," 16 May 2018
After that agreement was concluded, the CNDD-FDD did sign a cease-fire and power-sharing agreement with the Burundian transitional government and accepted the 2005 constitution.

— yolande bouka, Washington Post, "Burundi votes tomorrow on controversial constitutional amendments. A lot is at stake.," 16 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'transitional.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of transitional

1819

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

transitional

adjective tran·si·tion·al \ -ˈish-nəl, -ˈizh-ən-ᵊl \

medical Definition of transitional

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)