The continuum is a range or spectrum that gradually changes. The ends of the continuum are marked by distinctly different extremes. For example, a range of temperatures is defined by a line that passes through freezing and boiling points. A continuum is also a set of data, information or characteristics presented as a continuous quantity rather than as discrete, isolated facts. Gender, race and ability are examples of such a continuum. Caste and class systems of stratification are also examples of a continuum because they differ in the ease of mobility between achieved and ascribed statuses and in the severity of punishments based on those statuses.
Whether you’re comparing the intensity of your workouts with those of an elite marathoner, or discussing the differences in parenting styles between parents who are heavy on discipline and those who take a more child centered approach, most situations can be thought about along a continuum. The same is true for the effects of aging on a person’s cognitive functioning or musical styles.
These examples are selected automatically from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘continuum.’ Views expressed in these examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. the continuum
