cross-country

cross-country — adjective

1. covering the full span of a nation by travelling between its far ends.

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

covering the full span of a nation by travelling between its far ends.

Example

The cross-country train from Seoul to Busan takes about two and a half hours.

attributive use: cross-country + noun

Faisal's family took a cross-country road trip from California to New York last summer.

Common collocations
  • cross-country flight
  • cross-country train
  • cross-country road trip
  • cross-country bus
  • cross-country journey
Synonyms
  • nationwide

    focuses on covering the whole nation; less common for describing a single journey

  • transcontinental

    specifically across a continent, not just one country; more formal and less common

Antonyms
  • local

    limited to a small area rather than covering the whole country

Grammar Patterns

cross-country + noun

Usage Note

Usually appears before a noun describing a transport method (flight, train, bus, drive) or journey.

Common Mistakes

We took a cross-country walk from the post office to the library.
We took a cross-country road trip across Taiwan.
cross-country as an adjective describes travel spanning a whole country, not a short local trip.
She booked a cross-country flight from Tokyo to Osaka.
She booked a domestic flight from Tokyo to Osaka.
cross-country implies crossing a large land area, not a short domestic hop between nearby cities.

2. (of a sport or activity) taking place across natural land such as fields, forest

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

(of a sport or activity) taking place across natural land such as fields, forests, and hills rather than on prepared tracks, roads, or ski slopes.

Example

Haruto joined the cross-country running team at school and trains every morning before class.

collocation: cross-country running

Cross-country skiing requires special lightweight skis that let you lift your heels.

collocation: cross-country skiing

Common collocations
  • cross-country running
  • cross-country skiing
  • cross-country cycling
  • cross-country race
  • cross-country team
Synonyms
  • off-road

    broader term that includes vehicle sports; less specific to running and skiing

  • trail

    as in trail running; focuses on the path rather than the open-land aspect

Antonyms
  • road

    as in road cycling or road racing; takes place on paved surfaces

  • track

    as in track running; takes place on a prepared oval circuit

Grammar Patterns

cross-country + sport noun

Usage Note

Commonly paired with sport names: cross-country running, cross-country skiing, cross-country cycling. Unlike "off-road", this term specifically implies distance over natural terrain rather than technical obstacles.

Common Mistakes

She wore cross-country shoes to the gym.
She wore cross-country shoes for the race across the fields.
cross-country describes outdoor terrain sports, not any exercise setting.

cross-country — adverb

cross-country — noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

These three terms all describe travel or activity away from paved roads, but they differ in scope and typical use. "Cross-country" (this sense) emphasises covering distance through open countryside — fields, forests, hills — and is strongly associated with endurance sports like running, skiing, and cycling. "Off-road" is broader, covering any terrain travel by vehicle or on foot; it can include short technical stretches with rocks and steep drops, which cross-country usually avoids. "Trail" (as in trail running or trail cycling) focuses on following a specific path through natural areas, whereas cross-country often involves moving across open land without a fixed trail. "Overland" is more formal and typically describes long-distance journeys, often by vehicle, across continents or remote regions. For example: "The cross-country race took the runners through muddy fields" (open natural terrain, distance-focused); "She took her Jeep off-road up a rocky hillside" (short, technical, vehicle-focused); "They went on an overland expedition through Central Asia" (long-distance, formal).

off-roadtrail ↗overland

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

Old English / Old FrenchEnglish

Formed by combining "cross" and "country". "Cross" comes from Old English "cros" (via Old Irish from Latin "crux", meaning a cross or crucifix). "Country" comes from Old French "contree", from Latin "terra contrata" meaning "land lying opposite" or "the land before one". The compound "cross-country" first appeared in English during the 1600s, describing travel directly across open land rather than following established roads. By the late 1800s, it had become closely tied to sports — first running races over natural terrain, and later skiing events in Scandinavia.