Meanings
- USgeographyThe portion of the United States which is located on the North American continent; the United States exclusive of Hawaii and other overseas territories.
Synonyms: continental US
- UScolloquialgeographyThe largest portion of the United States which is not separated by any ocean or non-U.S. land; the United States exclusive of Alaska, Hawaii, and other overseas territories.
Synonyms: conterminous United States, contiguous United States, contiguous 48, lower 48
Synonyms & antonyms
proper nounThe portion of the United States which is located on the North American continent; the United States exclusive of Hawaii and other overseas territories.
proper nounThe largest portion of the United States which is not separated by any ocean or non-U.S. land; the United States exclusive of Alaska, Hawaii, and other overseas territories.
Translations
French États-Unis continentaux
- États-Unis continentauxUnited States excluding Hawaii and other overseas territories
Cite this entry
continental United States. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/continental%20United%20States
“continental United States.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/continental%20United%20States. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “continental United States,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/continental%20United%20States.
Source: continental United States on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.