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

• leeway
• slack
• space
• wiggle room

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

At this far-southern latitude, the interplay of light and cloud can be intense: the darks so very dark, the brights so very bright. —Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2024

View Comments On Neptune, dark spots can drift across the planet since no strong jet streams are holding them in place, Wong said, while the Great Red Spot is trapped between jet streams at a southern latitude on Jupiter. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024

Though not on the scale of May 10’s extreme G5 storm, the result was spectacular aurora seen across the world at lower latitudes than is typical. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024

This description was a nod to how Procyon rises before Sirius—and while this is still true for many skywatchers, those in the Southern U.S. and at similar latitudes throughout the world now see the stars appear in the opposite order, with Sirius rising first. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024

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

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