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

All our buildings are these hideous rectangles. —Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

Kids are still spending much of their classroom time hunched over a glass rectangle. —Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026

If any part of the ball touches any part of that rectangle, the pitch will be ruled a strike. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026

At the outset, Martin (William Giammona) is as stolid as a piece of furniture, standing stock still at center stage, the black rectangle through which the other actors enter and exit like a deep void behind him. —Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026

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"