adjective
-
touching along the side or boundary; in contact
-
physically adjacent; neighbouring
-
preceding or following in time
Other Word Forms
- contiguity noun
- contiguously adverb
- contiguousness noun
- noncontiguous adjective
- noncontiguously adverb
- noncontiguousness noun
- uncontiguous adjective
- uncontiguously adverb
- uncontiguousness noun
Etymology
Origin of contiguous
First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin contiguus “touching, bordering upon,“ equivalent to prefix con- “with, together” + tig- (variant stem of -tingere, combining form of tangere “to touch”) + -uus adjective suffix; con-, tangent, contingent, contact; -ous, continuous
Compare meaning
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The stripe-tailed mammals, also nicknamed "backyard bandits", are widespread across the contiguous US.
From BBC
After all, since Dutton is the patriarch of the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States, he may as well be the entire region’s big daddy.
From Salon
Policing a forest almost as large as the contiguous U.S. is nearly impossible.
The panel of 14 citizens works to create districts for state lawmakers and for members of Congress that are contiguous and roughly equal in population.
From Los Angeles Times
E1 would cut any Palestinian link to East Jerusalem — where Palestinians hope to make their capital — and torpedo any chance of a contiguous Palestinian state.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
