rectangle

noun

rect·​an·​gle ˈrek-ˌtaŋ-gəl 

: a parallelogram all of whose angles are right angles

especially : one with adjacent sides of unequal length

Examples of rectangle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ultimately, the certificate told them nothing: The manner of death was obscured by a little black rectangle. —Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 26 Jan. 2025

Memorable improvisations include an Apache deck from the 19th century, with sword, bell and button forms painted into rectangles of rawhide, and a deck of Paris metro tickets painted over by Alexis Poliakoff in the 1970s. —Walker Mimms, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

Slice the eggs into 10 even rectangles (one lengthwise cut and four crosscuts). —Laura McLively, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2025

Form a 3/4-inch thick rectangle, then fold it and reroll it at least once or up to two more times. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin rectangulus having a right angle, from Latin rectus right + angulus angle — more at right, angle

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rectangle

noun

rect·​an·​gle ˈrek-ˌtaŋ-gəl 

: a four-sided polygon that has four right angles and each pair of opposite sides parallel and of the same length

Etymology

from Latin rectangulus "having a right angle," from earlier Latin rectus "right" and angulus "angle"