orthogonal

adjective

or·​thog·​o·​nal ȯr-ˈthä-gə-nᵊl How to pronounce orthogonal (audio)
1
a
: intersecting or lying at right angles
In orthogonal cutting, the cutting edge is perpendicular to the direction of tool travel.
b
: having perpendicular slopes or tangents at the point of intersection
orthogonal curves
2
: having a sum of products or an integral (see integral entry 1 sense 1b) that is zero or sometimes one under specified conditions: such as
a
of real-valued functions : having the integral of the product of each pair of functions over a specific interval equal to zero
b
of vectors : having the scalar product equal to zero
c
of a square matrix : having the sum of products of corresponding elements in any two rows or any two columns equal to one if the rows or columns are the same and equal to zero otherwise : having a transpose with which the product equals the identity matrix
3
of a linear transformation : having a matrix (see matrix sense 5a) that is orthogonal : preserving length and distance
4
: composed of mutually orthogonal elements
an orthogonal basis of a vector space
5
: statistically independent
mental ability may be classified into several orthogonal … factorsO. D. Duncan
6
: orthographic sense 1
orthogonal projection
orthogonality noun
orthogonally adverb

Examples of orthogonal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The two figures—the uneasily Americanized Jew and the fervently ideological Zionist—glance off each other, bound in orthogonal directions. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024 The scientists then tweaked the mutation rate of the orthogonal DNA-replicating enzyme, eventually enhancing it 1,000-fold. Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 5 Feb. 2024 The genes in the orthogonal system are copied with an extraordinarily error-prone DNA replication enzyme, which spurs rapid evolution by generating many random mutations. Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 5 Feb. 2024 Another example of a slightly more complicated mathematical structure is what’s called orthogonal Latin squares. Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2024 To the French activist who spoke of innocence, this bow, an arrow fitted to it, would represent pure orthogonal virtue, a means of preserving life by killing. Jordan Castro, Harper's Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024 In a 10,000-dimensional space there are millions of nearly orthogonal vectors. Anil Ananthaswamy, Quanta Magazine, 13 Apr. 2023 North African Jewish and non-Jewish populations form distinctive, orthogonal clusters. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 13 Aug. 2012 In 10,000-dimensional space, there are 10,000 such mutually orthogonal vectors. Anil Ananthaswamy, Quanta Magazine, 13 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'orthogonal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Latin orthogonius, from Greek orthogōnios, from orth- + gōnia angle — more at -gon

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of orthogonal was circa 1560

Dictionary Entries Near orthogonal

Cite this Entry

“Orthogonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orthogonal. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

orthogonal

adjective
or·​thog·​o·​nal ȯr-ˈthäg-ən-ᵊl How to pronounce orthogonal (audio)
1
a
: lying or intersecting at right angles
b
: being, using, or made with three ECG leads whose axes are perpendicular to each other and to the frontal, horizontal, and sagittal axes of the body
the three orthogonal leads were recorded simultaneously on magnetic tapeMassoud Nemati et al.
2
: statistically independent
mental ability may be classified into several orthogonal … factorsO. D. Duncan

More from Merriam-Webster on orthogonal

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