as in sampling
a number of things selected from a group to stand for the whole
a television ratings service that monitors the viewing of a representative cross section of the general population
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cross section
There is nothing the world loves to put on a pedestal more than a beautiful white mother who inhabits the cross section of feminine beauty and maternal warmth, and who demonstrates ease at inhabiting all the roles society asks her to fill.
—
Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
It’s served sliced in half, revealing a cross section of pink interior featuring interwoven striations of marinated pork and smoked eel, whose flavors merge into an ambient meatiness.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 27 July 2025
The teeth at the front of the dinosaur’s jaw, however, are D-shaped in cross section, with the curve of the D facing out toward the lip and a flat side facing the interior of the mouth.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 July 2025
Bipartisan outrage over those dreams (or nightmares) united an odd cross section of Floridians: birder watchers, hunters, native tribes, blue-collar plumbers and Republican advisers.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cross section
Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
It’s served sliced in half, revealing a cross section of pink interior featuring interwoven striations of marinated pork and smoked eel, whose flavors merge into an ambient meatiness.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 27 July 2025
The teeth at the front of the dinosaur’s jaw, however, are D-shaped in cross section, with the curve of the D facing out toward the lip and a flat side facing the interior of the mouth.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 July 2025
Bipartisan outrage over those dreams (or nightmares) united an odd cross section of Floridians: birder watchers, hunters, native tribes, blue-collar plumbers and Republican advisers.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cross section
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cross section
Noun
-
The team used laser ablation mass spectrometry (LA-MS), a technique that uses direct micro-scale sampling to provide high-precision elemental and isotope analyses of solid materials, to scan Neanderthal molars and other hominid fossils.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Wholesale Produce Supply of Minneapolis, Minnesota, issued a voluntary recall on September 26 after routine sampling showed potential bacteria contamination.—
News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The team analyzed genetic material to identify the bacteria and fungi present in the samples.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Participants self-reported their mental health symptoms and soda intake, and researchers analyzed stool samples to assess their gut bacteria.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cross section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cross%20section. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share