wavelength

noun

wave·​length ˈwāv-ˌleŋ(k)th 

1

: the distance in the line of advance of a wave from any one point to the next point of corresponding phase

2

: a particular course or line of thought especially as related to mutual understanding

two people on different wavelengths

Examples of wavelength in a Sentence

Light and sound have different wavelengths.

Recent Examples on the Web

Large amounts of dust, mostly invisible at infrared and radio wavelengths, are also present here. —Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 12 Sep. 2025

The thin air allowed for millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths of light, which are normally absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, to reach the antennas with little interference. —Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025

That's because colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange. —Melina Khan, IndyStar, 8 Sep. 2025

The approach is known as wavelength multiplexing. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

wavelength

noun

wave·​length ˈwāv-ˌleŋ(k)th 

1

: the distance (as from crest to crest) in the line of advance of a wave from any one point to the next corresponding point

2

: a certain line of thought or behavior that reveals a common understanding

coworkers who are on the same wavelength

Medical Definition

wavelength

noun

wave·​length -ˌleŋ(k)th 

: the distance in the line of advance of a wave from any one point to the next point of corresponding phase

—symbol λ