supercontinent

noun

su·​per·​con·​ti·​nent ˈsü-pər-ˌkän-tə-nənt How to pronounce supercontinent (audio)
-ˌkänt-nənt
: a hypothetical former large continent from which other continents are held to have broken off and drifted away

Examples of supercontinent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The amethyst crystals are found in lava flows, which date from the original breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana around 134 million years ago. David Bressan, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 The cycle of building and breaking up of supercontinents seems to drive long-term climate trends. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 20 Sep. 2024 This ancient connection is one of many biological clues supporting the former geographic links within the Gondwana supercontinent, which began breaking apart into today’s continents around 180 million years ago. Scott Travers, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024 The discovery was a significant piece of the puzzle in understanding how early snakes lived and evolved, suggesting that snakes originated in Gondwana, a supercontinent that once included South America, Africa and India. Scott Travers, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for supercontinent 

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of supercontinent was in 1960

Dictionary Entries Near supercontinent

Cite this Entry

“Supercontinent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supercontinent. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

supercontinent

noun
su·​per·​con·​ti·​nent ˈsü-pər-ˌkänt-ᵊn-ənt How to pronounce supercontinent (audio)
-ˌkänt-nənt
: a former large continent which is assumed to have existed and from which other continents broke off and drifted away

More from Merriam-Webster on supercontinent

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