Word
transnational
Phoneticstransna·tion·al
US/tɹænsˈnæʃənəɫ/
UK/tɹænsnˈæʃənəl/
Definition
adj. describing something that operates or exists in many different countries at the same time. It is often used to talk about big companies or laws that cross borders.
adj. operating, existing, or extending across national boundaries. Often describes entities or processes that function beyond the jurisdiction or reach of a single sovereign state.
Examples
“The company is a transnational corporation with offices in fifty countries.”
“Addressing climate change requires a transnational approach because environmental issues do not stop at national borders.”
“The rise of transnational digital platforms has challenged traditional legal frameworks, as data flows and service delivery often bypass the regulatory reach of individual nation-states.”
Examples
simple
“The company is a transnational corporation with offices in fifty countries.”
contextual
“Addressing climate change requires a transnational approach because environmental issues do not stop at national borders.”
complex
“The rise of transnational digital platforms has challenged traditional legal frameworks, as data flows and service delivery often bypass the regulatory reach of individual nation-states.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun; frequently collocates with 'corporation', 'crime', or 'governance'.
Real-World Examples
“The West African country has launched a major crackdown of transnational drug trades, particularly cocaine trafficking, in recent years.” “But as useful as it is to locate this novel in an evolving tradition of transnational modernism, Mine is unequivocally a work about Tasmania, its brutal histories and its maddening ecology.” Etymology
From trans- + national.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/transnational