latitude

noun

lat·​i·​tude ˈla-tə-ˌtüd 

-ˌtyüd

1

: 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

: a region or locality as marked by its latitude

c

: angular distance of a celestial body from the ecliptic

2

: freedom of action or choice

students are allowed considerable latitude in choosing courses

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

archaic : extent or distance from side to side : width

latitudinal

ˌla-tə-ˈtü-də-nəl 

-ˈtyü-;

-ˈtüd-nəl

-ˈtyüd-

adjective

latitudinally adverb

Illustration of latitude

• hemisphere marked with parallels of latitude

Synonyms

• slack
• leeway

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 on the Web

As if this weren’t enough reason to look up, Comet SWAN will make its own cameo further east, and if weather permits, the northern lights could ripple across high-latitude skies, painting them with ribbons of green and pink. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025

Stars and constellations From mid-northern latitudes in late October, the summer constellations of the zodiac – Sagittarius, Ophiuchus and Scorpio – are exiting the sky to make way for the fall stars. —Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025

Officials argue that the approach gives Washington greater legal and military latitude to strike at foreign groups involved in narcotics smuggling. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025

The problem is, different factors drive weather and climate near the equator than in the middle latitudes – meaning that these weather forecast models are much less accurate at predicting weather in the tropics. —Emily Kwong, NPR, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Rhymes for latitude

• altitude
• amplitude
• aptitude
• attitude
• barbecued
• certitude
• desuetude
• devalued
• finitude
• fortitude
• gratitude
• interlude

Kids Definition

latitude

noun

lat·​i·​tude ˈlat-ə-ˌt(y)üd 

1

a

: distance north or south from the equator measured in degrees

b

: a region or locality as marked by its latitude

2

: freedom from narrow restrictions

were allowed latitude in picking report topics

latitudinal

ˌlat-ə-ˈt(y)üd-nəl 

-ᵊn-əl

adjective

latitudinally

-ē

adverb