adjective
interstate
IHNT-stayt
adjective
1
Involving or connecting two or more states.
"Interstate trade is regulated at the federal level."
noun
1
US: a major highway that is part of the national Interstate Highway System.
"We took the interstate to save an hour on the drive."
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.
Common pairings
interstate commerce
take the interstate
interstate highway
Word Forms
interstates plural
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_____ trade is regulated at the federal level.
Etymology
Formed from inter- ("between") and state; the highway sense comes from "interstate highway."