latitude

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

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

In terms of complaints to the department, supervisors have too much latitude, according to the report.

— jsonline.com, "Trust damaged between Milwaukee police and community, Department of Justice draft report says," 30 Aug. 2017
Goodell’s latitude in cases like this is excessive.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc: Roger Goodell's latitude is excessive in cases like Vontaze Burfict hit," 29 Aug. 2017
District 203 is seeking a change in the tax levy law to give schools the latitude to adjust previous years' levies if the request was below what the district was allowed.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Local districts shoring up message as they push for legislation," 24 Aug. 2017
The site calculates the antipode for any city or zip code entered by converting the latitude and longitude to the opposite hemisphere.

— don sweeney, sacbee, "Can you really dig a hole to China? This site has the answer.," 7 Aug. 2017
Here’s a brief description from Vox’s Jeff Stein: Senate Republicans’ newest bill includes a special $182 billion fund that will give the Department of Health and Human Services broad latitude to help stabilize the Obamacare markets.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Did the ‘Kodiak Kickback’ Buy Lisa Murkowski’s Vote for Trumpcare?," 17 July 2017
However, occasionally, in the wintertime at high latitudes near the North and South poles, these waves can get a boost from something called the polar night jet.

— kai sinclair, Science | AAAS, "Glider aims for new heights and rare scientific data," 10 July 2017
Just for fun, Master Gardener Joyce Gemmell kept a record of both the day length and the high and low temperatures each day for a year in El Cajon which is the same latitude (32° N) as San Diego.

— joyce gemmell & vincent lazaneo, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Sunlight, temperature heavily affect vegetable growth," 7 July 2017
The Larsen A ice shelf, far closer to the northern tip of the Antarctic peninsula – and therefore, warmer latitudes – collapsed in 1995.

— chris mooney, Alaska Dispatch News, "An iceberg the size of Delaware is about to break off of Antarctica," 6 July 2017

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

See Words from the same year

latitude Synonyms

Synonyms

slack, leeway, space, wiggle room

Related Words

license (or licence), rein, swing

Other Cartography Terms

Robinson projection, benchmark, plat, projection, topography

LATITUDE Defined for English Language Learners

latitude

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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