equilateral

adjective

equi·​lat·​er·​al ˌē-kwə-ˈla-tə-rəl How to pronounce equilateral (audio)
ˌe-,
-ˈla-trəl
1
: having all sides equal
an equilateral triangle
an equilateral polygon
see triangle illustration
2
: having all the faces equal
an equilateral polyhedron

Did you know?

Since equi- means "equal", the meaning of equilateral is easy to guess from its roots. The word is mostly used in geometry. The standard polygons (many-sided geometrical shapes)—the pentagon, hexagon, octagon, etc.—are assumed to be equilateral if we don't say otherwise; an equilateral rectangle has the special name square. But triangles are particularly important, and many triangles are not equal-sided. The standard polyhedrons (many-sided solids) are also equilateral. Most common is the cube, all of whose sides are square. The tetrahedron has four triangular sides and thus is a pyramid with a triangular base, unlike the pyramids of Egypt with their square bases.

Examples of equilateral 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.
Constructed from Alexander Graham Bell’s simple tetrahedron cell, the Cygnet model consists of two equilateral paper triangles, connected and illuminated by a hidden light source. Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025 Each Magna-Tile is a translucent geometric shape, and this set includes squares (four large, 50 small) and triangles (11 right, 20 equilateral, and 15 isosceles). Katrina Cossey, Parents, 12 July 2023 The set includes 48 regular squares, eight large squares, eight thick-sided squares, eight squares that look like windowpanes, 16 small and 16 large equilateral triangles plus 16 isosceles triangles. Jessica Hartshorn, Good Housekeeping, 19 Dec. 2022 The equilateral cross with its legs bent at right angles is a millennia-old sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism that represents peace and good fortune. Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2022 See All Example Sentences for equilateral

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin aequilateralis, from Latin aequi- + later-, latus side — more at lateral

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of equilateral was in 1570

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Equilateral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equilateral. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

equilateral

adjective
equi·​lat·​er·​al ˌē-kwə-ˈlat-ə-rəl How to pronounce equilateral (audio)
ˌek-wə-,
-ˈla-trəl
: having all sides or faces equal
an equilateral triangle

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