latitude

UK: /ˈlætɪtjuːd/

US: /ˈlætɪˌtud, -ˌtjud/

US: (lat′i to̅o̅d′, -tyo̅o̅d′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

lat•i•tude /ˈlætɪˌtud, -ˌtyud/   n. 

1. Geography
   • the angular distance, measured north or south from the equator, of a point on the earth's surface, expressed in degrees:
     [uncountable] at twenty degrees latitude.
     [countable* usually singular]
     drifting at a latitude of fifteen degrees.
   • [plural] a place or region as marked by this distance:
     at tropical latitudes.
2. freedom from narrow restrictions;
   freedom of action, opinion, etc.:
   [uncountable] They allow their children plenty of latitude in choosing friends.

See -lat-².

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

lat•i•tude  (lat′i to̅o̅d′, -tyo̅o̅d′), n. 

1. Geography
   • the angular distance north or south from the equator of a point on the earth's surface, measured on the meridian of the point.
   • a place or region as marked by this distance.
2. freedom from narrow restrictions;
   freedom of action, opinion, etc.:
   He allowed his children a fair amount of latitude.
3. Astronomy
   • See celestial latitude. 
   • See galactic latitude. 
4. Photography the ability of an emulsion to record the brightness values of a subject in their true proportion to one another, expressed as the ratio of the amount of brightness in the darkest possible value to the amount of brightness in the brightest:
   a latitude of 1 to 128.

• Latin lātitūdō breadth, equivalent. to lāt(us) broad + -i- -i- + -tūdō -tude
• Middle English 1350–1400

Synonyms

• 2. extent, liberty, indulgence. See range. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

latitude / ˈlætɪˌtjuːd/ noun

1. an angular distance in degrees north or south of the equator (latitude 0°), equal to the angle subtended at the centre of the globe by the meridian between the equator and the point in question
2. (often plural) a region considered with regard to its distance from the equator
   See longitude1
3. scope for freedom of action, thought, etc; freedom from restriction: his parents gave him a great deal of latitude

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin lātitūdō, from lātus broad

ˌlatiˈtudinal adjective

ˌlatiˈtudinally adverb