noun
Uncommon
longitude
LOND-zhiht-shood
Longitude (noun) means the angular distance of a place east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees. Example: “Sailors once struggled to calculate longitude accurately at sea.”
noun
1
The angular distance of a place east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees.
"Sailors once struggled to calculate longitude accurately at sea."
"The app shows your exact latitude and longitude."
"But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea."
— William E. Carter, The British Longitude Act Reconsidered (2012)
How to use longitude
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA measurement used with latitude to pinpoint an exact location on Earth, based on distance east or west.
Common mistake
Longitude lines run north-south (measuring east-west position); don't mix it up with latitude, which measures north-south position.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
latitude and longitude
degrees of longitude
line of longitude
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Word forms
- Plural
- longitudes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Sailors once struggled to calculate _____ accurately at sea.
Etymology
From Old French longitude, from Latin longitudo ("length"), from longus ("long").
Rhymes for longitude
See all rhymes for longitude →Frequently asked questions
What does “longitude” mean?
The word “longitude” means the angular distance of a place east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees. In plain terms, a measurement used with latitude to pinpoint an exact location on Earth, based on distance east or west.
How do you pronounce “longitude”?
“Longitude” is pronounced LOND-zhiht-shood (/ˈlɑnd͡ʒəˌtud/ in IPA).
How do you use “longitude” in a sentence?
Here is “longitude” used in a sentence: “Sailors once struggled to calculate longitude accurately at sea.”
What part of speech is “longitude”?
“Longitude” is a noun.
Where does the word “longitude” come from?
The word “longitude” comes from Latin. From Old French longitude, from Latin longitudo ("length"), from longus ("long").
Is “longitude” a common word?
“Longitude” is an uncommon word in modern English.
