polygon

noun

poly·​gon ˈpä-lē-ˌgän 

1

: a closed plane figure bounded by straight lines

2

: a closed figure on a sphere bounded by arcs of great circles

polygonal

pə-ˈli-gə-nᵊl 

adjective

polygonally

pə-ˈli-gə-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Examples of polygon in a Sentence

Pentagons, hexagons, and octagons are all kinds of polygons.

Recent Examples on the Web

But constructing our perfectly symmetric equilateral triangle—a regular polygon—required some elegant legwork. —Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 12 Sep. 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) and Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko (R) watch joint Russian-Belarussian military exercises at the polygon on September 26, 2013 in Grodno, Belarus. —Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2024

Here's a map showing the storm warnings (yellow polygons) and tree damage reports. —Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 15 July 2024

His first conjecture was that the answer is a smoothed polygon with straight edges and corners rounded with hyperbolas. —Quanta Magazine, 28 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin polygōnum, borrowed from Greek polýgōnon, from poly- poly- + -gōnon -gon

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing polygon

• spherical polygon

Kids Definition

polygon

noun

poly·​gon ˈpäl-i-ˌgän 

: a geometric figure that is closed, that lies in a plane, and whose edges are all straight lines

triangles, squares, and pentagons are all polygons

polygonal

pə-ˈlig-ən-ᵊl 

adjective