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

Derived Forms

• ˌContiˈnentalˌism, noun
• ˌContiˈnentalist, noun

Other Words From

• conti·nental·ly adverb
• noncon·ti·nental adjective noun
• precon·ti·nental adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of continental¹

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

Example Sentences

Southern California is the moodiest place in the continental United States when you compare its climate from year to year, according to California’s Fourth Climate Assessment.

From Voice of San Diego

Under the terms of Cudd’s release, any travel outside of the continental United States must be approved by the court.

From Washington Post

It went as far as him deciding, and us saying, “Well, we can kind of do a continental mid-Atlantic, you know like people do who are on the New York stage, you know it doesn’t have to be an English accent, but it can be effected somewhat.”

From Ozy

Hawaii employs 1,008 fewer physicians than any similarly sized and populated area in the continental US.

From Popular-Science

Physiographic maps had previously been used to represent continental landforms with standardized symbols.

From Science News

It is the omphalos, this city that straddles two steamboat rivers at the continental crossroads.

From The Daily Beast

They marched through the streets of downtown New York to the synchronized beats of the Continental drum corps that followed.

From The Daily Beast

The commander of the Continental Army realized that if he did not inoculate his army against smallpox, he might not have an army.

From The Daily Beast

The outbreak began in Missouri and Illinois, but has now spread to almost all the continental United States.

From The Daily Beast

Conceptually, the “Angel of Death” was a cultural mainstay in continental Europe and the British Isles by the late Middle Ages.

From The Daily Beast

Sweden excluded British goods, conformably to the continental system established by Bonaparte.

From Project Gutenberg

It has long been the custom for advertisers in the continental journals to typify their wares.

From Project Gutenberg

After 1815 the continental visits were resumed, and the practice of smoking began steadily to increase.

From Project Gutenberg

I have seen the retreats of continental armies in my time; they are always a scene of horrors.

From Project Gutenberg

His duties were to enforce the continental system and to keep a stern eye on Prussia.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• continental
• global
• multicultural