contiguous

[ kuhn-tig-yoo-uhs ]

adjective

1. touching; in contact.

   Synonyms: adjoining

2. in close proximity without actually touching; near.

   Synonyms: adjacent

3. adjacent in time:

   contiguous events.

contiguous

/ kənˈtɪɡjʊəs; ˌkɒntɪˈɡjuːɪtɪ /

adjective

1. touching along the side or boundary; in contact
2. physically adjacent; neighbouring
3. preceding or following in time

Derived Forms

• contiguity, noun
• conˈtiguously, adverb

Other Words From

• con·tigu·ous·ly adverb
• con·tigu·ous·ness noun
• noncon·tigu·ous adjective
• noncon·tigu·ous·ly adverb
• noncon·tigu·ous·ness noun
• uncon·tigu·ous adjective
• uncon·tigu·ous·ly adverb
• uncon·tigu·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contiguous¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of contiguous¹

C17: from Latin contiguus, from contingere to touch; see contact

Example Sentences

The study analyzed county-level data on the annual use of 295 pesticides and prostate cancer rates across the contiguous United States.

From Salon

UC Davis entomology professor James Carey, who has decades of Medfly study on his resume, told The Times: “Nowhere in the world are fruit fly invasions as frequent, recurrent, persistent, continuous, contiguous, widespread, and taxonomically diverse as those that have occurred in California.”

From Los Angeles Times

That high, also reached in Ocotillo Wells, was the hottest temperature anywhere in the contiguous U.S., according to the National Weather Service.

From Los Angeles Times

When drawing new lines, legislative bodies must create districts with equal populations that are both compact and contiguous.

From Los Angeles Times

Although visitors might expect winter to be the most dangerous time on the 14,505-foot mountain — the highest peak in the contiguous United States — summer and early fall are actually the busiest times for rescuers, said Reuther.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adjoining
• neighboring