Illustration of ellipse
- F F' foci
- P P' P'' any point on the curve
- FP + PF' = FP'' + P''F' = FP' + P'F'
1
a
: oval
b
: a closed plane curve generated by a point moving in such a way that the sums of its distances from two fixed points is a constant : a plane section of a right circular cone that is a closed curve
2
: ellipsis
Did you know?
The Property of an Ellipse
A closed curve consisting of points whose distances from each of two fixed points (foci) all add up to the same value is an ellipse. The midpoint between the foci is the center. One property of an ellipse is that the reflection off its boundary of a line from one focus will pass through the other. As a result, in an elliptical room, a person whispering at one focus is easily heard by someone at the other. An oval may or may not fit the definition of an ellipse.
Examples of ellipse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The ellipse enclosing these locations is called an error ellipse.
—
Toshi Hirabayashi, The Conversation, 25 June 2025
Helicopters and World War II-era warplanes will fly overhead and Army parachutists will soar down to the White House's ellipse, where Trump will preside over the parade from a presidential booth.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 15 June 2025
There are also plans for a parachute jump by the Army's Golden Knights at the White House ellipse.
—Nik Popli, Time, 12 June 2025
Jupiter has a tilt of only three degrees, but its orbit is more elliptical than Earth’s, making its analemma a simpler ellipse in its sky.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ellipse
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.
Toshi Hirabayashi, The Conversation, 25 June 2025
Helicopters and World War II-era warplanes will fly overhead and Army parachutists will soar down to the White House's ellipse, where Trump will preside over the parade from a presidential booth.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 15 June 2025
There are also plans for a parachute jump by the Army's Golden Knights at the White House ellipse.
—Nik Popli, Time, 12 June 2025
Jupiter has a tilt of only three degrees, but its orbit is more elliptical than Earth’s, making its analemma a simpler ellipse in its sky.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ellipse
Cite this Entry
“Ellipse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ellipse. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ellipse
noun
el·lipse
i-ˈlips 
e-
: an oval shape that is a conic section
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share