What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
adjacent
Example
The hotel room next to ours was empty. [adjacent: adjective]
Example
The adjacent buildings shared a common wall. [adjacent: adjective]
Example
The park is adjacent to the library. [adjacent: preposition]
contiguous
Example
The two houses had contiguous backyards. [contiguous: adjective]
Example
The contiguous states of the US share borders with each other. [contiguous: adjective]
Example
The company's departments are contiguous and work closely together. [contiguous: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Adjacent is more commonly used than contiguous in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between adjacent and contiguous?
Contiguous is more formal than adjacent and is often used in technical or legal contexts.