rectilinear
adjective
rec·ti·lin·e·ar
ˌrek-tə-ˈli-nē-ər 
1
: moving in or forming a straight line
rectilinear motion
2
: characterized by straight lines
the rectilinear skyline of a modern city
rectilinearly
adverb
Examples of rectilinear in a Sentence
the rectilinear skyline of a modern city
Recent Examples on the Web
Hanging directly on the wall, Particoloured Heideggerianism, 2022, for example, appears notably painting-like as its almost rectilinear outer frame of rectangular tubing wraps around a central high-gloss chartreuse cylinder mounted on a horizonal bar in the same color but in a matte finish.
—
Gordon Hughes, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
In contrast to the rectilinear blocks at Stonehenge, the Stenness megaliths are thin slabs with angled upper edges, like upside-down guillotine blades.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Some snakes can also move sideways or in a straight line
Some snake species use other bizarre techniques to move, such as rectilinear and sidewinding motion, Tingle says.
—Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 19 Nov. 2025
On top of being one of the tallest and slimmest buildings in the world, the perfectly rectilinear tower would also be a stark, clean white.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rectilinear
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Gordon Hughes, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
In contrast to the rectilinear blocks at Stonehenge, the Stenness megaliths are thin slabs with angled upper edges, like upside-down guillotine blades.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Some snakes can also move sideways or in a straight line
Some snake species use other bizarre techniques to move, such as rectilinear and sidewinding motion, Tingle says.
—Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 19 Nov. 2025
On top of being one of the tallest and slimmest buildings in the world, the perfectly rectilinear tower would also be a stark, clean white.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rectilinear
Cite this Entry
“Rectilinear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rectilinear. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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