rectangle

noun

rect·​an·​gle ˈrek-ˌtaŋ-gəl 

: a parallelogram all of whose angles are right angles

especially : one with adjacent sides of unequal length

Examples of rectangle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Beneath the slab, archaeologists found a human skeleton surrounded by 23 field stones that had been arranged to form a rectangle, according to the statement from the city of Gdańsk. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2025

Superimposed on these rectangles are two clear squares for windows. —Christopher Urban, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025

Roll out remaining dough half into a 12 1/2- x 8 1/2-inch rectangle. —Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 29 May 2025

The system can produce 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) visuals in a viewing rectangle between 30 and 150 diagonal inches. —Paul Ridden may 25, New Atlas, 25 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin rectangulus having a right angle, from Latin rectus right + angulus angle — more at right, angle

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rectangle

noun

rect·​an·​gle ˈrek-ˌtaŋ-gəl 

: a four-sided polygon that has four right angles and each pair of opposite sides parallel and of the same length

Etymology

from Latin rectangulus "having a right angle," from earlier Latin rectus "right" and angulus "angle"