obliquity

noun

obliq·​ui·​ty ō-ˈbli-kwə-tē 

ə-

plural obliquities

1

: deviation from moral rectitude or sound thinking

2

a

: deviation from parallelism or perpendicularity

also : the amount of such deviation

b

: the angle between the planes of the earth's equator and orbit having a value of about 23°27′

obliquity of the ecliptic

3

a

: indirectness or deliberate obscurity of speech or conduct

b

: an obscure or confusing statement

Synonyms

• ambiguity
• ambiguousness
• darkness
• equivocalness
• equivocation
• inscrutability
• inscrutableness
• murkiness
• mysteriousness
• nebulosity
• nebulousness
• obliqueness
• obscurity
• opacity
• opaqueness

Examples of obliquity in a Sentence

her poetry is sure to satisfy those readers who readily confuse obliquity with profundity

Recent Examples on the Web

Because of these wobbles, Earth’s obliquity isn’t perfectly fixed. —Gongjie Li, Discover Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024

So how do obliquity variations affect the seasons on a planet? —Gongjie Li, Discover Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024

Earth’s tilt, which is scientifically known as obliquity, is known to vary between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees on a cycle that lasts about 41,000 years. —Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 23 Aug. 2023

Titan's obliquity, for example is 0.3 degrees, whereas Earth's is 23 degrees. —Patrick Morgan, Discover Magazine, 9 May 2011

These two measurements are useful because the Cassini State Model describes a reliable correlation between a moon's obliquity to its moment of inertia. —Patrick Morgan, Discover Magazine, 9 May 2011

The second cycle is related to gradual changes in the Earth’s inclination, or obliquity. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 30 Sep. 2022

Milkankovich obliquity frequency for the most recent sediment. —Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 8 Jan. 2013

This might suggest that a truer study of the psyche and its place in the world could be conducted via indirection or obliquity. —Matthew Bevis, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English obliquite "slanted or crooked state," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French obliquité, borrowed from Latin oblīquitāt-, oblīquitās "condition of being at an angle, slant," from oblīquus "slanting, oblique entry 1" + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

obliquity

noun

obliq·​ui·​ty ō-ˈblik-wət-ē, ə- 

plural obliquities

: the quality or state of being oblique : deviation from parallelism or perpendicularity

also : the amount of such deviation