vertical

adjective

ver·​ti·​cal ˈvər-ti-kəl 

1

a

: perpendicular to the plane of the horizon or to a primary axis : upright

b(1)

: located at right angles to the plane of a supporting surface

(2)

: lying in the direction of an axis : lengthwise

2

a

: situated at the highest point : directly overhead or in the zenith

b

of an aerial photograph : taken with the camera pointing straight down or nearly so

3

a

: relating to, involving, or integrating economic activity from basic production to point of sale

a vertical monopoly

b

: of, relating to, or comprising persons of different status

the vertical arrangement of society

4

medical : relating to or being transmission (as of a disease) by genetic inheritance or by a congenital or perinatal route

vertical inheritance

… decreasing the rate of vertical transmission of HIV to the fetus by two-thirds, so that the numbers of children with the condition are diminishing.

—Cynthia B. Cohen

compare horizontal sense 3

vertical noun

verticality

ˌvər-tə-ˈka-lə-tē 

noun

vertically

ˈvər-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

verticalness

ˈvər-ti-kəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• standing
• perpendicular
• erect
• upright

Choose the Right Synonym for vertical

vertical, perpendicular, plumb mean being at right angles to a base line.

vertical suggests a line or direction rising straight upward toward a zenith.

the side of the cliff is almost vertical

perpendicular may stress the straightness of a line making a right angle with any other line, not necessarily a horizontal one.

the parallel bars are perpendicular to the support posts

plumb stresses an exact verticality determined (as with a plumb line) by earth's gravity.

make sure that the wall is plumb

Examples of vertical in a Sentence

a shirt with vertical stripes

the vertical axis of a graph

Recent Examples on the Web

Standing out is a spacious living room wrapped in vertical fir siding, plus a dining area that connects to a minimalist kitchen upgraded with newer stainless steel appliances. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2025

The team traversed steep and uneven ground, overcame vertical drops of up to 60 feet (20 meters) using rope techniques and transformed a small underground site into a temporary base. —Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025

Antonio McDyess was a tremendous vertical threat. —Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Australia's Airspeeder has been racing electric flyers for a while now, but so far the sporty electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft haven't had anyone in the pilot's seat. —New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin verticalis, from Latin vertic-, vertex

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing vertical

• vertical angle
• vertical circle
• vertical file
• vertical union

Kids Definition

vertical

1 of 2 adjective

ver·​ti·​cal

ˈvərt-i-kəl

1

: directly overhead

2

: going straight up or down from a level surface

3

: of or relating to persons of higher or lower standing

a vertical social order

vertically

-k(ə-)lē

adverb

vertical

2 of 2 noun

1

: something (as a line or plane) that is vertical

2

: a vertical direction

Etymology

from early French vertical or Latin verticalis, both meaning "relating to a vertex, at the highest point overhead," from earlier Latin vertic-, vertex "top, highest point, pole (turning point), whirl," from vertere "to turn" — related to converse, reverse, universe, versatile

Medical Definition

vertical

adjective

ver·​ti·​cal ˈvərt-i-kəl 

: relating to or being transmission (as of a disease) by genetic inheritance or by a congenital or perinatal route

vertical transmission of the hepatitis B virus from mother to infant

vertical inheritance

compare horizontal sense 2

vertically

ˈvərt-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb