rectangle

noun

rect·​an·​gle ˈrek-ˌtaŋ-gəl How to pronounce rectangle (audio)
: a parallelogram all of whose angles are right angles
especially : one with adjacent sides of unequal length

Examples of rectangle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cut each rectangle into thirty 1-inch pieces. Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025 Rather than the traditional rectangle, the Este screen boasts playful scallops and exaggerated feet. Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2025 The set is available in multiple colors and includes two baking sheets, a 12-cup muffin pan, a large rectangle pan and storage organizer for neat cabinet stacking. Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025 Swift’s Eras Tour stage features a large diamond in the center that extends out into two rectangles on either side. Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rectangle

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin rectangulus having a right angle, from Latin rectus right + angulus angle — more at right, angle

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rectangle was circa 1560

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Cite this Entry

“Rectangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rectangle. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

rectangle

noun
rect·​an·​gle ˈrek-ˌtaŋ-gəl How to pronounce rectangle (audio)
: a four-sided polygon that has four right angles and each pair of opposite sides parallel and of the same length
Etymology

from Latin rectangulus "having a right angle," from earlier Latin rectus "right" and angulus "angle"

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