transnational

/ˌtrænzˈnæʃnəl/ (bre, ipa) · [trænsnˈæʃənəl] /ˌtrænzˈnæʃnəl/ (ame, ipa) · [trænsnˈæʃənəl] /(ˌ)tran(t)s-ˈna-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce transnational (audio) (ˌ)tranz-/ (ame, mw)

transnational — adjective

  • transnationalpositive
  • more transnationalcomparative
  • most transnationalsuperlative

1. describing activities, companies, or organisations that operate across the borde

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describing activities, companies, or organisations that operate across the borders of several countries, usually as a single integrated unit rather than through separate teams working in each country.

例句

The Wei Corporation became a transnational company after opening offices in Brazil, Kenya, and Thailand.

transnational company + listing of countries

Amara's research focuses on how transnational migration affects family relationships spread across three continents.

transnational migration — common academic collocation

同義詞
  • multinational

    very similar in meaning; multinational is more commonly used for companies with operations in many countries, while transnational emphasises integration across borders

  • cross-border

    more specific to physical or legal boundaries; less formal and often used for trade, transactions, or travel

  • international

    broader and more common; describes anything involving two or more countries, often between separate national entities rather than as a single cross-border unit

反義詞
  • domestic

    limited to one country; opposite of crossing national borders

  • national

    confined within a single nation's boundaries

  • local

    restricted to a small area within one country

文法句型

transnational + noun (company/movement/crime)

用法筆記

Frequently used before a noun. Distinguished from international: international usually describes cooperation between separate national groups, whereas transnational implies a structure or activity that crosses borders as a single unit (a transnational corporation makes decisions centrally for all countries, not country by country).

常見錯誤

❌Our company has transnational partnerships with firms in Japan and Germany.
✅Our company has international partnerships with firms in Japan and Germany.
💡Transnational describes the company's own cross-border structure, not its relationships with other countries' firms.
❌The two governments signed a transnational trade agreement.
✅The two governments signed an international trade agreement.
💡Agreements between nations are international; transnational describes activities that cross borders as a single integrated effort.