A range or series in which each part has a particular characteristic to different degrees. Gender, for example, is not a binary selection but falls along the continuum between female and male characteristics. Caste and class systems of stratification are on opposite extremes of a social hierarchy.
A continuum of services may include crisis response, shelter, stabilization, and reintegration into the community for adults with psychiatric needs. This is a powerful reminder of how important it is to consider all the steps that are required for recovery from trauma and abuse.
Continuum is also the name of a 1990s science fiction play-by-mail game. More than a dozen people have won the prestigious Hugo award for their work on this series, which features many of the same authors as the TV show. Words that are related to continuum include range, series, and spectrum. Browse these words to learn more about the connections between them. Then, click on the words to see examples of their use in context. These examples are automatically compiled from various online sources, and do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. the continuum