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

Away with those rectangles and squares (not to mention the squares who thought that painting had to be one thing and not another)! —Hilton Als, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025

Pat and shape dough into a 7- x 5-inch rectangle. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Dec. 2025

Neighbouring the stadium’s practice wickets on the north side of the stadium, the rectangle receives great care and attention. —Michael Bailey, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025

Crime scene photos show a generic rectangle container of orange soap in the women's bathroom. —Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Nov. 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"