obliquity
noun
obliq·ui·ty
ō-ˈbli-kwə-tē 
ə-
plural obliquities
1
: deviation from moral rectitude or sound thinking
2
a
: deviation from parallelism or perpendicularity
also
: the amount of such deviation
b
: the angle between the planes of the earth's equator and orbit having a value of about 23°27′
obliquity of the ecliptic
3
a
: indirectness or deliberate obscurity of speech or conduct
b
: an obscure or confusing statement
Examples of obliquity in a Sentence
her poetry is sure to satisfy those readers who readily confuse obliquity with profundity
Recent Examples on the Web
The key players in these cycles are Earth's obliquity, the precession of its rotational axis and the shape of Earth's orbit around the sun.
—
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
The angle this line makes to the ecliptic plane, which is the plane of the solar system in which all the planets orbit, is the obliquity.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
The angle this line makes to the ecliptic plane, which is the plane of the solar system in which all the planets orbit, is the obliquity.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Because of these wobbles, Earth’s obliquity isn’t perfectly fixed.
—Gongjie Li, Discover Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024
So how do obliquity variations affect the seasons on a planet?
—Gongjie Li, Discover Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024
Earth’s tilt, which is scientifically known as obliquity, is known to vary between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees on a cycle that lasts about 41,000 years.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 23 Aug. 2023
The second cycle is related to gradual changes in the Earth’s inclination, or obliquity.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 30 Sep. 2022
This might suggest that a truer study of the psyche and its place in the world could be conducted via indirection or obliquity.
—Matthew Bevis, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2022
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.
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
The angle this line makes to the ecliptic plane, which is the plane of the solar system in which all the planets orbit, is the obliquity.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
The angle this line makes to the ecliptic plane, which is the plane of the solar system in which all the planets orbit, is the obliquity.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Because of these wobbles, Earth’s obliquity isn’t perfectly fixed.
—Gongjie Li, Discover Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024
So how do obliquity variations affect the seasons on a planet?
—Gongjie Li, Discover Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024
Earth’s tilt, which is scientifically known as obliquity, is known to vary between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees on a cycle that lasts about 41,000 years.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 23 Aug. 2023
The second cycle is related to gradual changes in the Earth’s inclination, or obliquity.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 30 Sep. 2022
This might suggest that a truer study of the psyche and its place in the world could be conducted via indirection or obliquity.
—Matthew Bevis, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Obliquity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obliquity. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
obliquity
noun
obliq·ui·ty
ō-ˈblik-wət-ē, ə-
plural obliquities
: the quality or state of being oblique : deviation from parallelism or perpendicularity
also
: the amount of such deviation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share