transcontinental

[trans-kon-tn-en-tl]

adjective

1. passing or extending across a continent.

   a transcontinental railroad.

2. on the other, or far, side of a continent.

transcontinental

/ ˌtrænzkɒntɪˈnɛntəl /

adjective

1. crossing a continent

2. on or from the far side of a continent

Other Word Forms

• transcontinentally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of transcontinental¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; trans- + continental

Example Sentences

Partly because of their remarkable transcontinental voyage between salt lakes, the grayish birds have inspired a close partnership between communities in California and Argentina.

From Los Angeles Times

The village grew slowly until the transcontinental railroad arrived in 1876.

From Los Angeles Times

The book falls short in its attempt to tie Yin Manor’s haunted nature to the exploitation of the thousands of Chinese migrants who built the Western half of the first transcontinental railroad, however.

From Los Angeles Times

The Public Utilities Commission was created as the Railroad Commission in the late 1870s, after the completion of the transcontinental railroad.

From Los Angeles Times

“Harry Young” made his way to Woodland, which had developed a busy Chinatown populated by immigrants who had come to work on the transcontinental railroad.

From Los Angeles Times