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

Painted on slabs of vinyl affixed to the brick, the mural — a large rectangle about the size of the building’s ground floor — featured a background that appeared to depict mass graves, weeping mothers, drones and other scenes of carnage in Gaza. —Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2025

Me Espresso comes in a bottle shaped like a chocolate bar, divided into small rectangles. —Mikelle Street, WWD, 9 Dec. 2024

Seattle, Washington Art Haus is a 2006 industrial-modern home comprising two rectangles, one clad in cedar and one clad in steel. —The Week Staff, theweek, 24 Dec. 2024

Place ½ cup of the filling in a 1-inch line near the center of the rectangle. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 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"