What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
coterminous
Example
The city limits are coterminous with the county line. [coterminous: adjective]
Example
The lease agreement is coterminous with the fiscal year. [coterminous: adjective]
conterminous
Example
The two states are conterminous along their entire border. [conterminous: adjective]
Example
The conterminous United States includes all states except Alaska and Hawaii. [conterminous: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Conterminous is more commonly used than coterminous in everyday language, especially in British English. However, both words are relatively uncommon and may be more likely to appear in academic or technical writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between coterminous and conterminous?
Both coterminous and conterminous are formal words that may be more appropriate in academic or technical writing than in casual conversation or informal writing.
