adjacent countries

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adjacent countries" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to countries that share a border or are in close proximity to each other. Example: France and Spain are adjacent countries, with France to the north and Spain to the south of the Pyrenees mountain range.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What are the consequences for adjacent countries?

The New York Times

And the disease has spread from Nigeria to adjacent countries.

The New York Times

"Map of The Kingdom of Siam, and the Adjacent Countries" "Chapter II.

Cornell University

A map of the East-Indies and the adjacent countries... by H. Moll, Geog.

Yale University

20. "Journeys in the Pamirs and Adjacent Countries" in Science, Feb. 26, 1892.

Cornell University

Often growing crooked, it is commonly used (where produced ln adjacent countries) for frames of vessels.

Cornell University

Maps of Europe after Chernobyl, depicting radiation levels in all adjacent countries, showed fallout miraculously stopping at the French border.

The New York Times

That has poisoned the air and the ground water, not only of Serbia but of adjacent countries as well.

University of California, Berkeley

The East Oghuz group (SWe) consists of Turkmen (Turkmenistan and adjacent countries) and Khorāsān Turkic (northeastern Iran).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Celtel's One Network, for example, eliminates roaming charges for customers travelling between the adjacent countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The Economist

Larger forms of the same species occur in Russia and adjacent countries, where they are somewhat longer and considerably heavier.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For scientific or geographical contexts, "adjacent countries" is highly appropriate for denoting countries with shared physical boundaries.

Common error

Be precise: "adjacent countries" implies a shared border. If countries are merely close but not bordering, use phrases like "nearby countries" or "countries in close proximity" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adjacent countries" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "adjacent" modifies the noun "countries". It describes countries that share a border or are geographically very close. Ludwig shows many examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

24%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Science

32%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "adjacent countries" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that refers to countries sharing a border or being in close proximity. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various domains. While it's suitable for neutral and formal contexts, remember to use more descriptive phrases like "neighboring nations" or "countries in close proximity" when more specific nuances are needed. Avoiding confusion with proximity is crucial for precise communication. When to use the expression "adjacent countries" it's generally to denote a close, typically bordering, geographic relationship between countries. When describing the political relationship between them, "neighboring nations" is a more common expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neighboring nations

Focuses on the political aspect of countries being close.

bordering countries

Emphasizes the shared border between countries.

adjoining countries

A more formal synonym of bordering countries.

countries sharing a border

Specifically highlights the shared border between countries.

contiguous countries

Highlights the continuous physical connection between countries.

nearby countries

Indicates proximity without necessarily sharing a border.

countries in close proximity

Formally expresses the idea of countries being located near each other.

geographically close countries

Emphasizes the geographical closeness of the countries.

countries in the vicinity

Similar to 'nearby', but suggests a slightly wider area.

countries in the region

Refers to countries located within the same geographical area.

FAQs

How can I use "adjacent countries" in a sentence?

You can use "adjacent countries" to describe nations sharing a border. For example, "The spread of the disease affected not only the country of origin, but also its adjacent countries".

What's a more formal way to say "adjacent countries"?

More formal alternatives include "contiguous countries" or "adjoining countries", which also emphasize the shared border. You could also say "countries in close proximity" if they do not share a border but are near each other.

Are "adjacent countries" and "neighboring countries" the same?

While similar, "neighboring countries" often implies a broader relationship, including political and economic ties. "Adjacent countries" strictly refers to those sharing a border.

What can I say instead of "adjacent countries"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "bordering countries", "nearby countries", or "countries in close proximity". Each highlights a slightly different aspect of the relationship between the countries.