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

By comparing the radiation from each galaxy using both visible light and infrared wavelengths, scientists can study how hot young stars, around only 1 to 10 million years old, shape their environment. —Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 10 July 2025

Various wavelengths are recorded to gather as much data as possible about the corona without the diffusion and light leakage caused by Earthbound observations. —David Szondy june 28, New Atlas, 28 June 2025

Earlier this week, NASA released its latest detailed images of the Milky Way’s spiral sibling, as well an ethereal sonification of its energy wavelengths. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 June 2025

Surveys of past TDEs have uncovered multiple instances where black holes that had seemingly gone quiet suddenly lit up again in radio wavelengths. —Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 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