interstate

/ˌˈɪntərˌsteɪt/

/ˈɪntəsteɪt/

Other forms: interstates

If something is interstate, it happens between different U.S. states. For example, you can drive on Interstate 80 from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey. Yep, that's a trip.

If you're driving from Rhode Island to Illinois, you can call it interstate travel, or an interstate road trip — you're going from state to state. An interstate highway connects different states together, like I-95, which is an east coast interstate highway that stretches from Maine to Florida. For short, you can call a road like this an interstate. This 20th century word combines inter-, "between," and state.

Definitions of interstate

1. adjective

   involving and relating to the mutual relations of states especially of the United States
   “Interstate Highway Commission”

   “interstate highways”

   “Interstate Commerce Commission”

   “interstate commerce”

   antonyms:

   intrastate

   relating to or existing within the boundaries of a state
2. noun

   one of the system of highways linking major cities in the 48 contiguous states of the United States
   synonyms: interstate highway

   type of:

   highway, main road

   a major road for any form of motor transport