continental

[kon-tn-en-tl]

adjective

1. of or of the nature of a continent.

2. (usually initial capital letter),  of or relating to the mainland of Europe, to Europeans, or to European customs and attitudes.

3. (initial capital letter),  of or relating to the 13 original American colonies during and immediately after the American Revolution.

4. of or relating to the continent of North America.

noun

1. (initial capital letter),  a soldier of the Continental Army in the American Revolution.

2. a piece of paper currency issued by the Continental Congress during the American Revolution.

3. a small amount.

   advice that's not worth a continental.

4. an inhabitant of a continent.

5. (usually initial capital letter),  an inhabitant of the mainland of Europe.

Continental

/ ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntəl /

adjective

1. of or characteristic of Europe, excluding the British Isles

2. of or relating to the 13 original British North American colonies during and immediately after the War of American Independence

noun

1. (sometimes not capital) an inhabitant of Europe, excluding the British Isles

2. a regular soldier of the rebel army during the War of American Independence

3. history a currency note issued by the Continental Congress

Other Word Forms

• Continentalism noun
• Continentalist noun
• continentally adverb
• noncontinental adjective
• precontinental adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Continental¹

First recorded in 1750–60; continent + -al ¹

Example Sentences

New head of Continental Studios, a people pleaser trying to balance his love for filmmaking with the demands of commerce.

From Los Angeles Times

A new development company, called Platform4, is being created, by rolling together two existing bodies: London and Continental Railways and Network Rail's Property Development Team.

From BBC

It recreates the war through the perspectives of Continental soldiers, militiamen, British officers, and American Loyalists, as well as Native soldiers and civilians, enslaved and free African Americans, German mercenaries and French and Spanish allies.

From Salon

On one side was Continental and Northwest, which claimed larger rival American Airlines had illegally lowered fares to monopolize certain markets.

From Los Angeles Times

Lionsgate bundled movie tickets with posters and Continental coins, promoting sales by livestreaming a “Ballerina” premiere event on the social media app.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• global 
• multicultural