Atlantic

The word “Atlantic” means relating to the Atlantic Ocean or to the countries and coastlines that border it. In plain terms, describes anything to do with the Atlantic Ocean, such as its weather, coastline, or the countries around it.

“Atlantic” is pronounced uht-LAN-tihk (/ətˈlæn.tɪk/ in IPA).

Here is “Atlantic” used in a sentence: “They took an Atlantic crossing by ship instead of flying.”

“Atlantic” is an adjective.

“Atlantic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Both are adjectives describing the world's major oceans and their surrounding regions, but they point to different waters. Atlantic relates to the Atlantic Ocean, which separates the Americas from Europe and Africa. Pacific relates to the larger Pacific Ocean, between the Americas and Asia. They are the two biggest oceans and are easily confused.

Transatlantic means crossing or spanning the Atlantic Ocean, usually linking North America with Europe. A transatlantic flight travels between the two continents, and a transatlantic relationship describes ties between countries on either side. The prefix trans means across, so the word literally means across the Atlantic.

You might speak of the Atlantic coast of the United States, Atlantic salmon, an Atlantic storm system, or the North Atlantic Treaty. In each case Atlantic links the noun to the Atlantic Ocean or to the lands and waters that border it.