latitude
/ˈlæt.ɪ.tjuːd/noun
A number in degrees that tells you how far north or south of the equator a place lies.
Example sentences
- “The city sits at a latitude of about 40 degrees north.”
- “Winter days are much shorter at high latitudes.”
- “Sailors once used the stars to work out their latitude.”
It is paired with 'longitude', which measures distance east or west. In other contexts, 'latitude' also means freedom to make your own choices.
Often confused with latitude
- latitude vs longitude
- longitude (noun): The distance of a place east or west of the prime meridian, measured as an angle.
- latitude vs altitude
- altitude (noun): Height above a fixed reference point, usually sea level.
Related words
globeThe world we live on; the planet Earth.equatorThe imaginary circle around the middle of the Earth, halfway between the poles, separating the northern and southern halves of the planet.atlasA book of maps, often including charts, pictures, or explanatory text.hemisphereOne half of the Earth, such as the northern, southern, eastern, or western half.brochureA small printed booklet giving information about something, often used in advertising.continentOne of the earth's largest unbroken landmasses, usually separated from the others by oceans or major geographical features, sometimes counted together with its shelves and nearby islands. 