trigonometric function

noun

1

: a function (such as the sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant, or cosecant) of an arc or angle most simply expressed in terms of the ratios of pairs of sides of a right-angled triangle

called also circular function

2

: the inverse (such as the arcsine, arccosine, or arctangent) of a trigonometric function

Examples of trigonometric function in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Others are capable of evaluating trigonometric functions, extracting roots and calculating logarithms. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2026

Waves, vibrations, and many biological rhythms exhibit this kind of periodic behavior and are often modeled using circular or trigonometric functions. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Mar. 2026

Spacecraft software demands sophisticated mathematical programming, full of matrix operations, trigonometric functions, and multiple precision variables. — Frank O’Brien, Ars Technica, 30 Jan. 2020

In addition to performing basic arithmetic, slide rules were used to find logarithms, square roots, and trigonometric functions, or anything with a regularly repeating ratio. — Allison Marsh, IEEE Spectrum, 31 Jan. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for trigonometric function

• adjunction
• compunction
• conjunction
• disjunction
• dysfunction
• injunction
• malfunction
• eigenfunction
• multifunction
• heterojunction
• junction
• unction

Kids Definition

trigonometric function

noun

: any of a group of functions (as the sine, cosine, and tangent) that for an acute angle are most easily expressed as ratios between the sides of a right triangle containing the angle