latitude

noun lat·i·tude \ ˈla-tə-ˌtüd , -ˌtyüd \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Examples: latitude in a Sentence

Definition of latitude

1 archaic : extent or distance from side to side : width

2 : angular distance from some specified circle or plane of reference: such as

a : angular distance north or south from the earth's equator measured through 90 degrees

an island located at 40 degrees north latitude

b : angular distance of a celestial body from the ecliptic

c : a region or locality as marked by its latitude

3 a : scope, range

b : the range of exposures within which a film or plate will produce a negative or positive of satisfactory quality

4 : freedom of action or choice

students are allowed considerable latitude in choosing courses

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latitudinal

play \ˌla-tə-ˈtüd-nəl, -ˈtyüd-; -ˈtü-də-nəl, -ˈtyü-\ adjective

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latitudinally

adverb

See latitude defined for English-language learners

See latitude defined for kids

Examples of latitude in a Sentence

a map of the world showing lines of latitude and longitude
located at a latitude of 40 degrees north
Madrid and New York City are on nearly the same latitude.
islands located at different latitudes
We weren't given much latitude in deciding how to do the job.
The judge has wide latitude to reject evidence for the trial.

Recent Examples of latitude from the Web

The president has wide latitude in deciding how to enforce immigration law.

— dan sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Deport immigrants who commit crimes, readers say, regardless of legal status or how old the crime is," 10 July 2018
That’s because only nations in more northern latitudes, where day length fluctuates dramatically throughout the year, benefit.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "The EU Mulls Ditching Daylight Saving Time," 9 July 2018
McAdams case became cause celebre Many conservatives argue universities should have more latitude to fire tenured faculty, but this case played out differently.

— bruce vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin Supreme Court sides with Marquette professor John McAdams in free speech case, orders university to reinstate him," 6 July 2018
Clearly, in practice, Stewart must have significant latitude and influence in the search process.

— brian straus, SI.com, "U.S. Soccer Hires Earnie Stewart as First USMNT General Manager," 6 June 2018
Serafini says, the vaccine will stay fresh for a few days at up to 8 degrees, so the health care workers have a little latitude.

— adam rogers, WIRED, "An Ebola Vaccine Gets Its First Real-World Test," 21 May 2018
During the long span of occupations at Shangchen, which is about the same latitude as Kabul, the climate fluctuated from warm and wet to cold and dry.

— ann gibbons, Science | AAAS, "Our ancestors may have left Africa hundreds of thousands of years earlier than thought," 11 July 2018
Now, a bill that would give states the latitude to kill several hundred more sea lions each year along the Columbia has moved closer than ever to becoming law.

— ryan sabalow, sacbee, "To protect salmon in the Columbia, will we have to kill more sea lions?," 6 July 2018
Rural winters at this northern latitude, however, are another story.

— Vogue, "3 Writers On Living Sustainably In 2018," 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'latitude.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of latitude

Origin and Etymology of latitude

Middle English, from Latin latitudin-, latitudo, from latus wide; akin to Old Church Slavonic postĭlati to spread

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

latitude Synonyms

Synonyms

authorization, free hand, freedom, license (or licence), run;

range, room, space;

blank check, carte blanche;

Other Cartography Terms

Robinson projection, benchmark, plat, projection, topography

LATITUDE Defined for English Language Learners

latitude

noun

Definition of latitude for English Language Learners

: distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees up to 90 degrees
: an imaginary line that circles the Earth at a particular latitude and that is parallel to the equator
: freedom to choose how to act or what to do