polygon

noun

poly·​gon ˈpä-lē-ˌgän 

1

: a closed plane figure bounded by straight lines

2

: a closed figure on a sphere bounded by arcs of great circles

polygonal

pə-ˈli-gə-nᵊl 

adjective

polygonally

pə-ˈli-gə-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Examples of polygon in a Sentence

Pentagons, hexagons, and octagons are all kinds of polygons.

Recent Examples on the Web

Google specifically mentioned that the chip's GPU should be much better than older Tensors, which fall well short of competing chips at pushing polygons. —PC Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

Indeed, triangles are the most basic polygon; any complex 3D shape can be broken down into a mesh of interconnected triangles. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025

In that the polygon count for the main characters and enemies was very restrictive, doubly so because the game had to support the 3D gimmick of the 3DS, effectively doubling up the rendering passes. —Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025

Robb explained sirens are activated in zones that are part of what the National Weather Service describes as a polygon. —Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin polygōnum, borrowed from Greek polýgōnon, from poly- poly- + -gōnon -gon

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing polygon

• spherical polygon

Rhymes for polygon

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• chitosan
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon

Kids Definition

polygon

noun

poly·​gon ˈpäl-i-ˌgän 

: a geometric figure that is closed, that lies in a plane, and whose edges are all straight lines

triangles, squares, and pentagons are all polygons

polygonal

pə-ˈlig-ən-ᵊl 

adjective