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

Read more: The Netflix Korean Dramas to Look Out For in 2025 According to Kim, the double date was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, driven by the Si-an love polygon. —Kayti Burt, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025

This technique means the graphics engine needs to draw fewer polygons to render a strand. —Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PCMAG, 15 Jan. 2025

That happened on Wednesday when the Eaton fire approached a polygon in the Pasadena area. —David Schechter, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2025

These components — the central tower, spider structure and polygon base — are all hosted on what is called the altitude structure. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 19 Jan. 2025

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