Meaning & use
transnational
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Extending, operating, or having effects across national borders rather than within a single country.
Grammar: Used before a noun: transnational companies, transnational crime.
Patterns
- transnational company
- transnational cooperation
- transnational issue
Transnational companies operate in many countries at once.
The two governments signed a transnational agreement to protect the river.
Climate change is a transnational problem that no single country can solve alone.
Common combinations
- transnational corporation
- A transnational corporation has offices in several countries.
- transnational crime
- Police work together to fight transnational crime.
- transnational cooperation
- Transnational cooperation is needed to tackle pollution.
- transnational network
- The activists built a transnational network to share ideas.
Synonyms and how they differ
- international
- Involves relations between nations; 'transnational' emphasizes crossing borders and often ignoring them.
- global
- Covers the whole world; 'transnational' focuses on crossing national boundaries, not necessarily worldwide.
- multinational
- Often describes companies operating in several countries; 'transnational' is broader and can describe activities or effects.
Opposites
Word family
- transnationally adverb
- In a way that crosses national borders.
- national adjective
- Relating to a single nation.
Commonly confused: transnational or international?
transnational vs international
International means between nations (e.g., international trade). Transnational means crossing borders, often without regard to them (e.g., transnational gangs).
Practice
The company has offices in ten countries, so it is truly ______.
Choose one answer.
'Transnational' describes something that operates across national borders. 'International' would suggest relations between nations, but here the focus is on the company's cross-border operations.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “transnational”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.