Illustration of latitude
- hemisphere marked with parallels of latitude
latitude
noun
lat·i·tude
ˈla-tə-ˌtüd 
-ˌtyüd
1
: angular distance from some specified circle or plane of reference: such as
a
: angular distance north or south from the earth's equator measured through 90 degrees
an island located at 40 degrees north latitude
b
: a region or locality as marked by its latitude
c
: angular distance of a celestial body from the ecliptic
2
: freedom of action or choice
students are allowed considerable latitude in choosing courses
3
4
archaic
: extent or distance from side to side : width
latitudinally
adverb
Examples of latitude in a Sentence
a map of the world showing lines of latitude and longitude
located at a latitude of 40 degrees north
Madrid and New York City are on nearly the same latitude.
islands located at different latitudes
We weren't given much latitude in deciding how to do the job.
The judge has wide latitude to reject evidence for the trial.
Recent Examples on the Web
Since then, arguably, a different kind of television has emerged and taken root, giving creative talent more latitude to decide the shelf life of their stories.
—
Brian Lowry, CNN, 1 July 2024
Photograph: Jemal Countess/Getty Images As if Big Tech weren’t powerful enough already, recent decisions by the Supreme Court will give some of the most valuable companies in the world more latitude to undermine the government’s ability to rein them in, according to legal experts WIRED spoke to.
—Jordan Pearson, WIRED, 1 July 2024
By Tuesday, the hurricane center noted that conditions could shift, and a strong subtropical ridge that is expected to keep the storm at lower latitudes could lighten, allowing Beryl to inch into higher latitudes.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 June 2024
Originating from the temperate deciduous forests of Eurasia, the little bird is now common in boreal coniferous forests at northern latitudes.
—Anders Brodin, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for latitude 
Brian Lowry, CNN, 1 July 2024
Photograph: Jemal Countess/Getty Images As if Big Tech weren’t powerful enough already, recent decisions by the Supreme Court will give some of the most valuable companies in the world more latitude to undermine the government’s ability to rein them in, according to legal experts WIRED spoke to.
—Jordan Pearson, WIRED, 1 July 2024
By Tuesday, the hurricane center noted that conditions could shift, and a strong subtropical ridge that is expected to keep the storm at lower latitudes could lighten, allowing Beryl to inch into higher latitudes.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 June 2024
Originating from the temperate deciduous forests of Eurasia, the little bird is now common in boreal coniferous forests at northern latitudes.
—Anders Brodin, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for latitude
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'latitude.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near latitude
Cite this Entry
“Latitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latitude. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
latitude
noun
lat·i·tude
ˈlat-ə-ˌt(y)üd
1
a
: distance north or south from the equator measured in degrees
b
: a region or locality as marked by its latitude
2
: freedom from narrow restrictions
were allowed latitude in picking report topics
latitudinally
adverb
-ē
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