adjective
Uncommon
interstate
IHNT-stayt
Interstate (adjective) means involving or connecting two or more states. Example: “Interstate trade is regulated at the federal level.”
adjective
1
Involving or connecting two or more states.
"Interstate trade is regulated at the federal level."
"Jordan Gee, 37, of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, was charged with three felony counts of threats against the president and one count of interstate threats, according to the Justice Department."
— Casey Gannon, Pennsylvania man charged with threatening Biden in online video (2024)
"Her new job involves a lot of interstate travel for meetings."
"An interstate agreement now covers the sharing of river water."
noun
1
US: a major highway that is part of the national Interstate Highway System.
"The speed-limit increase would not apply to Delaware, where the interstates are all near populated areas."
— Bernard Weinraub, HOUSE BACKS A SPEED LIMIT OF 65 FOR RURAL INTERSTATES (1987)
"We took the interstate to save an hour on the drive."
"Traffic on the interstate slowed to a crawl near the city."
"The motel sits right beside the interstate, so it is easy to find."
"There was no reason to pull off the interstate and drive twenty miles down a bumpy local road, just to stay in a dilapidated no-tell motel."
— Robin Wasserman, Seven Deadly Sins (2013)
How to use interstate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that spans or connects multiple US states, or, informally, a major American highway.
UK vs US
This word and its highway meaning are specifically American; the UK equivalent would be a motorway.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
interstate commerce
take the interstate
interstate highway
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Word forms
- Plural
- interstates
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ trade is regulated at the federal level.
Etymology
Formed from inter- ("between") and state; the highway sense comes from "interstate highway."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
intrastate
Related words
Rhymes for interstate
See all rhymes for interstate →Frequently asked questions
What does “interstate” mean?
The word “interstate” means involving or connecting two or more states. In plain terms, something that spans or connects multiple US states, or, informally, a major American highway.
How do you pronounce “interstate”?
“Interstate” is pronounced IHNT-stayt (/ˈɪntɚˌsteɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “interstate” in a sentence?
Here is “interstate” used in a sentence: “Interstate trade is regulated at the federal level.”
What part of speech is “interstate”?
Depending on how it is used, “interstate” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “interstate” a common word?
“Interstate” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “interstate” have?
“Interstate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: involving or connecting two or more states.
What is the difference between interstate and intrastate?
"Interstate" describes something that involves or connects two or more states, such as interstate commerce or interstate travel. "Intrastate" refers to something that stays entirely within a single state. The key contrast is between (between states) and within (one state).
When is "Interstate" capitalized in reference to a highway?
It is capitalized when part of a proper name, such as "Interstate 95" or "the Interstate Highway System." As a general adjective meaning "between states" (interstate trade), it stays lowercase.
What is the difference between an interstate and a freeway?
In the US, an interstate is specifically a highway that belongs to the national Interstate Highway System. "Freeway" is a broader term for any divided highway with no traffic lights or at-grade crossings, so not every freeway is an interstate.
How does "interstate" work as a noun versus an adjective?
As an adjective, "interstate" describes anything involving two or more states, as in interstate travel. As a noun in American English, it names a major highway in the Interstate Highway System, as in "we took the interstate."
