straight-line

adjective

ˈstrāt-ˈlīn 

1

: being a mechanical linkage or equivalent device designed to produce or copy motion in a straight line

2

: having the principal parts arranged in a straight line

3

: marked by a uniform spread and especially in equal segments over a given term

straight-line amortization

straight-line depreciation

4

: occurring, measured, or made in or along a straight line

straight-line motion

straight-line extrapolation

Examples of straight-line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Even though many of these storms are below severe limits, those straight-line winds can still create issues. —Nelly Carreño, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026

As storms develop Friday afternoon, there is a chance for discrete supercells with very large hail, strong tornadoes and destructive, straight-line winds. —Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026

That’s what happened last spring, when a severe storm with straight-line winds tore off a portion of the roof at First United Methodist Church of Elgin. —Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

Other new tweaks could also include changes to the use of active aerodynamics, such as making Straight Mode available at more points on the lap in qualifying to improve straight-line speed and potentially making its use unlimited. —Luke Smith, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Rhymes for straight-line

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• byline
• canine

Legal Definition

straight-line

adjective

: marked by equal payments over a given term

using the straight-line method of depreciation