right angle

noun

: the angle bounded by two lines perpendicular to each other : an angle of 90° or ¹/₂ π radians

right-angled

ˈrīt-ˈaŋ-gəld 

adjective

or right-angle

ˈrīt-ˈaŋ-gəl 

Examples of right angle in a Sentence

A square has four right angles.

Hold the nail at a right angle to the board.

The two boards are joined at right angles to each other.

Recent Examples on the Web

After talking to the boys for about five minutes, deputies fired a non-lethal projectile toward the boys and moved in quickly at the right angle to grab the gun from the kids. —Elise Preston, CBS News, 13 May 2025

Another way to alternate is to mow at a right angle to your previous cut. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2025

Take a big step out to the left and bend your left knee at a right angle while sending your hips behind you. —Alyssa Ages, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

As a result, the Mars Triangle will become altered again, resembling a more of a right triangle configuration on March 10, with the hypotenuse formed by Mars and Castor and the right angle at Pollux. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 17 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for right angle

• bangle
• dangle
• jangle
• mangle
• strangle
• tangle
• wrangle
• disentangle
• entangle
• quadrangle
• triangle
• untangle

Kids Definition

right angle

noun

: an angle whose measure is 90° : an angle whose sides are perpendicular to each other

right-angled

ˈrīt-ˈaŋ-gəld

adjective

or right-angle

-gəl