Illustration of latitude
- hemisphere marked with parallels of latitude
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
4
archaic
: extent or distance from side to side : width
latitudinally
adverb
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
Subramanian will have wide latitude at Combs’ sentencing Friday.
—
Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
But since 2000, the tropical bird’s territory has expanded north by hundreds of kilometers — more than 100 miles and about 2 degrees of latitude — along the Rio Grande and up toward San Antonio, said study coauthor Timothy Keitt.
—Amanda Schupak, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Your best chance to catch a glimpse of the auroras is at very high latitudes, such as northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland and possibly the far north of Scotland, if the skies are clear.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Legal protections, including a federal law known as Section 230, provide tech platforms with wide latitude to make their own content moderation decisions without being held liable for those decisions, however controversial.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for latitude
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Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
But since 2000, the tropical bird’s territory has expanded north by hundreds of kilometers — more than 100 miles and about 2 degrees of latitude — along the Rio Grande and up toward San Antonio, said study coauthor Timothy Keitt.
—Amanda Schupak, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Your best chance to catch a glimpse of the auroras is at very high latitudes, such as northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland and possibly the far north of Scotland, if the skies are clear.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Legal protections, including a federal law known as Section 230, provide tech platforms with wide latitude to make their own content moderation decisions without being held liable for those decisions, however controversial.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for latitude
Cite this Entry
“Latitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latitude. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
latitudinally
adverb
-ē
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