The latitude of a place is its distance from the equator. Compare longitude.
In the middle to high latitudes rainfall has risen steadily over the last 20–30 years.
Latitude is also an adjective.
The army must cease military operations above 36 degrees latitude north.
2. uncountable noun
Latitude is freedom to choose the way in which you do something.
[formal]
He would be given every latitude in forming a new government.
His status at the studio afforded him all the artistic latitude he could ask for.
Synonyms: scope, liberty, indulgence, freedom More Synonyms of latitude
More Synonyms of latitude
latitude in British English
(ˈlætɪˌtjuːd)
noun
1.
a.
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
b. (often plural)
a region considered with regard to its distance from the equator
longitude (sense 1)
2.
scope for freedom of action, thought, etc; freedom from restriction
his parents gave him a great deal of latitude
3. photography
the range of exposure over which a photographic emulsion gives an acceptable negative
4. astronomy celestial latitude
Derived forms
latitudinal (ˌlatiˈtudinal)
adjective
latitudinally (ˌlatiˈtudinally)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Latin lātitūdō, from lātus broad
latitude in American English
(ˈlætəˌtud; ˈlætəˌtjud)
noun
1. Rare
breadth; width
2. Rare
extent; scope; range of applicability
3.
freedom from narrow restrictions; freedom of opinion, conduct, or action
4. see astronomical latitude, celestial latitude
5. Geography
a.
angular distance, measured in degrees, north or south from the equator
a ship at forty degrees north latitude
b.
a region or place as determined by such measurement
see also longitude
Derived forms
latitudinal (ˌlatiˈtudinal)
adjective
latitudinally (ˌlatiˈtudinally)
adverb
Word origin
OFr < L latitudo < latus, wide: see lateral
Examples of 'latitude' in a sentence
latitude
This system allows latitude in making offers.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Leaders who expect progress must allow some latitude for chaos and failure.
Christianity Today (2000)
And protesters should indeed be given great latitude.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This ruling helpfully confirms that national governments retain considerable latitude in interpreting the law.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We have given lots of latitude and flexibility with a young and inexperienced squad.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In many, partners have considerable latitude to sign off their own expenses.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Days become longer with increasing latitude north; shorter with increasing latitude south.
Jilbert, John Geography Basic Facts (1983)
Here, there tends to be much wider latitude.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If allowing the colonists wide latitude in governing themselves was the price for general prosperity, then so be it.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
And this is why a healthy degree of latitude should be given to tweets, as with candidly expressed opinions more generally.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The best approach from central government would be to give latitude to local business needs and employment conditions, within a supporting central framework.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I think it's important to give them latitude with their book choices.
The Sun (2010)
As head of department he had considerable latitude in how he carried out his work, and so he began to take this new direction.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Our northern latitude, by contrast, favours preservation of plant and animal remains.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We've seen that pragmatism in the latitude given to France to breach its deficit targets.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
People can get very angry indeed about that at home, so imagine the stress at latitude 75 degrees south.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
latitude
British English: latitude /ˈlætɪˌtjuːd/ NOUN
The latitude of a place is its distance from the Equator.
All three cities lie on the same latitude, 43 degrees north.
American English: latitude
Arabic: خَطُ العَرْضُ
Brazilian Portuguese: latitude
Chinese: 纬度
Croatian: zemljopisna širina
Czech: zeměpisná šířka
Danish: breddegrad
Dutch: latitude
European Spanish: latitud
Finnish: leveysaste
French: latitude
German: Breite geografisch
Greek: γεωγραφικό πλάτος
Italian: latitudine
Japanese: 緯度
Korean: 위도
Norwegian: breddegrad
Polish: szerokość geograficzna
European Portuguese: latitude
Romanian: latitudine
Russian: широта
Latin American Spanish: latitud
Swedish: latitud
Thai: เส้นขวางขนานกับเส้นศูนย์สูตรของโลก
Turkish: enlem
Ukrainian: широта
Vietnamese: vĩ độ
All related terms of 'latitude'
celestial latitude
the angular distance of a celestial body north or south from the ecliptic
ecliptic latitude
the angular distance of a celestial body north or south from the ecliptic
astronomical latitude
the angle between the direction of gravity at the observer's position and the plane of the celestial equator
line of latitude
an imaginary line on a globe , map , etc, indicating latitude
parallel of latitude
separated by an equal distance at every point; never touching or intersecting
parallel
If something has a parallel , it is similar to something else, but exists or happens in a different place or at a different time. If it has no parallel or is without parallel , it is not similar to anything else.
Chinese translation of 'latitude'
latitude
(ˈlætɪtjuːd)
n
(c/u) (Geo) 纬(緯)度 (wěidù)
(u) (= freedom) 自由 (zìyóu)
1 (noun)
Definition
scope for freedom of action and thought
She will be given every latitude in forming a new government.
Synonyms
scope
He believed in giving his staff scope for initiative.
liberty
indulgence
freedom
freedom to buy and sell at the best price
play
a dazzling picture book which allows imaginations full play
room
There's a lot of room for you to express yourself.
space
The furniture proved impractical because it took up too much space.
licence
All that stuff about catching a giant fish was just a bit of poetic licence.
leeway
Schoolteachers rarely have leeway to teach the way they want.
laxity
elbowroom
unrestrictedness
2 (noun)
Synonyms
breadth
The breadth of his knowledge filled me with admiration.
reach
Luckily, the phone was in easy reach.
range
The trees on the mountain within my range of vision had all been felled.
space
spread
The rhododendron grows to 18 inches with a spread of 24 inches.
sweep
the whole sweep of German social and political history
extent
an estate about seven or eight acres in extent
scope
the scope of a novel
span
The bridge has a span of 579 feet.
width
The width of the road has been increased to 20 ft.
compass
Within the compass of a book of this size, such a comprehensive survey is not practicable.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of compass
Definition
limits or range
Within the compass of a book of this size, such a comprehensive survey is not practicable.
Synonyms
range,
field,
area,
reach,
scope,
sphere,
limit,
stretch,
bound,
extent,
zone,
boundary,
realm
in the sense of extent
Definition
the length, area, or size of something
an estate about seven or eight acres in extent
Synonyms
size,
area,
range,
length,
reach,
bounds,
sweep,
sphere,
width,
compass,
breadth,
ambit
in the sense of freedom
Definition
the power to order one's own actions
freedom to buy and sell at the best price
Synonyms
licence,
latitude,
a free hand,
free rein,
play,
power,
range,
opportunity,
ability,
facility,
scope,
flexibility,
discretion,
leeway,
carte blanche,
blank cheque,
elbowroom
Synonyms of 'latitude'
latitude
Explore 'latitude' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of leeway
Definition
flexibility of action or expenditure
Schoolteachers rarely have leeway to teach the way they want.
Synonyms
room,
play,
space,
margin,
scope,
latitude,
elbowroom
in the sense of licence
Definition
intentional disregard of conventional rules to achieve a certain effect
All that stuff about catching a giant fish was just a bit of poetic licence.
Synonyms
freedom,
creativity,
latitude,
independence,
liberty,
deviation,
leeway,
free rein,
looseness
in the sense of play
Definition
activity or operation
a dazzling picture book which allows imaginations full play
Synonyms
scope,
room,
range,
freedom,
licence,
liberty,
indulgence,
latitude,
free rein
in the sense of range
The trees on the mountain within my range of vision had all been felled.
Synonyms
scope,
area,
field,
bounds,
province,
orbit,
span,
domain,
compass,
latitude,
radius,
amplitude,
purview,
sphere
in the sense of reach
Definition
the extent or distance of reaching
Luckily, the phone was in easy reach.
Synonyms
grasp,
range,
distance,
stretch,
sweep,
capacity,
extent,
extension,
scope
in the sense of room
There's a lot of room for you to express yourself.
Synonyms
opportunity,
freedom,
scope,
leeway,
play,
chance,
range,
occasion,
margin,
allowance,
compass,
latitude,
r%m
in the sense of space
Definition
unoccupied area or room
The furniture proved impractical because it took up too much space.
Synonyms
room,
volume,
capacity,
extent,
margin,
extension,
scope,
play,
expanse,
leeway,
amplitude,
spaciousness,
elbowroom
in the sense of span
Definition
the complete extent
The bridge has a span of 579 feet.
Synonyms
extent,
reach,
spread,
length,
distance,
stretch
in the sense of spread
Definition
the wingspan of an aircraft or bird
The rhododendron grows to 18 inches with a spread of 24 inches.
Synonyms
extent,
reach,
span,
stretch,
sweep,
width,
compass
in the sense of sweep
Definition
a wide expanse
the whole sweep of German social and political history
Synonyms
extent,
range,
span,
stretch,
scope,
compass
Additional synonyms
in the sense of width
Definition
the extent or measurement of something from side to side
The width of the road has been increased to 20 ft.