altitude

noun

al·​ti·​tude ˈal-tə-ˌtüd How to pronounce altitude (audio)
 also  -ˌtyüd
1
a
: the vertical elevation of an object above a surface (such as sea level or land) of a planet or natural satellite
b
: the angular elevation of a celestial object above the horizon
c(1)
: a perpendicular line segment from a vertex (see vertex sense 2a) of a geometric figure (such as a triangle or a pyramid) to the opposite side or the opposite side extended or from a side or face to a parallel side or face or the side or face extended
(2)
: the length of an altitude
2
a
: vertical distance or extent
b
: position at a height
The plane lost altitude.
c
: an elevated region : eminence
usually used in plural
3
: a high level (as of quality or feeling)
the altitudes of his anger
altitudinal adjective
altitudinous adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for altitude

height, altitude, elevation mean vertical distance either between the top and bottom of something or between a base and something above it.

height refers to something measured vertically whether high or low.

a wall two meters in height

altitude and elevation apply to height as measured by angular measurement or atmospheric pressure; altitude is preferable when referring to vertical distance above the surface of the earth or above sea level; elevation is used especially in reference to vertical height on land.

fly at an altitude of 10,000 meters
Denver is a city with a high elevation

Examples of altitude in a Sentence

the air temperature at different altitudes Some visitors find it difficult to adjust to the city's high altitude. The plane lost altitude rapidly.
Recent Examples on the Web The spacecraft and satellite will continue to gradually move apart in altitude. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2024 The low levels of oxygen at this altitude is not only challenging for players, but vegetation too. Matias Grez, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024 On Thursday morning, the company said the spacecraft had moved to a higher altitude and would land at 4:24 p.m. Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024 The aircraft is a pilot-plus-four passenger vehicle and is designed to cruise 120 mph at a 1,500-foot altitude to meet typical city operation needs of 25-to-40 mile trips, according to a press release from the company. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 21 Feb. 2024 At that time, operators used the last of the satellite’s battery and fuel—a choice meant to lower the risk of a future explosion—and maneuvered it to a lower altitude of about 356 miles. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024 Descending through an altitude of about 18 miles, Odysseus will flip from a horizontal to a vertical orientation, dropping at just under 4 mph. William Harwood, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2024 Highest altitude pizza delivery on land: Good news! Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2024 Most famously, in 1971, a 17-year-old named Juliane Koepcke fell from an altitude of more than 10,000 feet after lightning struck LANSA flight 508. Longreads, 1 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'altitude.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "height, angular height of a celestial body above the horizon," borrowed from Latin altitūdin-, altitūdō "height, high position, downward extension, depth," from altus "extending upward, tall, high, extending downward, deep" + -i- -i- + -tūdin-, -tūdō -tude; altus going back to dialectal Indo-European *al-to- (whence also Middle Irish alt, allt "height, cliff," Welsh allt "hill, steep slope, cliff"), of uncertain origin

Note: Traditionally equated with Germanic *alđa- "old," and further to a verbal base *al- "nourish" (< Indo-European *h2el- "nourish, feed;" see old entry 1), on the assumption that the verbal adjective *al-to- "fully grown, nourished" leads to both "old" and "high." However, both the Latin and Celtic etyma refer primarily or exclusively to points situated above the ground, not human or animal growth, so such a connection is questionable.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of altitude was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near altitude

Cite this Entry

“Altitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altitude. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

altitude

noun
al·​ti·​tude ˈal-tə-ˌt(y)üd How to pronounce altitude (audio)
1
a
: the angular height of a celestial object above the horizon
b
: the vertical distance of an object above a given level (as sea level)
c
: a perpendicular line from a vertex of a geometric figure (as a triangle) to the opposite side or from one side or face to a parallel side or face
also : the length of such a line
2
: an elevated region
usually used in plural

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