variants
or less commonly spacial
1
: relating to, occupying, or having the character of space
2
: of, relating to, or involved in the perception of relationships (as of objects) in space
tests of spatial ability
spatial memory
Examples of spatial in a Sentence
When patients have this kind of problem, they can't feel the relationship between their body and their feet, so they must rely on visual cues to keep themselves upright. Without these cues, they lose their spatial orientation and fall.
—
John Pettinato, Discover, October 2004
Williams syndrome, which was first described in 1961, results when a group of genes on one copy of chromosome 7 is deleted during embryonic development. Most people with Williams resemble each other more than they do their families, with wide-set hazel eyes, upturned noses, and wide mouths. They also share a peculiar set of mental impairments. Most stumble over the simplest spatial tasks, such as putting together a puzzle, and many not read or write beyond the level of a first grader.
—U.S. News & World Report, 15 June 1998
Several new ground-based and orbiting astronomical facilities that could provide high spatial and spectral resolution appear technologically ready for development during the next several decades.
—Robert D. Gehrz et al., Science, 25 May 1984
the spatial dimensions of a room
John Pettinato, Discover, October 2004
Williams syndrome, which was first described in 1961, results when a group of genes on one copy of chromosome 7 is deleted during embryonic development. Most people with Williams resemble each other more than they do their families, with wide-set hazel eyes, upturned noses, and wide mouths. They also share a peculiar set of mental impairments. Most stumble over the simplest spatial tasks, such as putting together a puzzle, and many not read or write beyond the level of a first grader.
—U.S. News & World Report, 15 June 1998
Several new ground-based and orbiting astronomical facilities that could provide high spatial and spectral resolution appear technologically ready for development during the next several decades.
—Robert D. Gehrz et al., Science, 25 May 1984
the spatial dimensions of a room
Recent Examples on the Web
The iPhone 16e is capable of capturing videos in 4K up to 60 frames per second and uses spatial audio.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
Despite the grim proceedings and grubby environment, the spatial arrangement of the image brings to mind a theatre balcony packed with eager punters ready to consume their money’s worth of entertainment.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025
Niantic’s future focus appears to be on enhancing spatial intelligence through large-scale machine learning models, leveraging data collected from its gaming applications to build detailed 3D maps of the world.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
With a film in which the protagonist is largely confined to a cleaning platform, the challenge becomes less about spatial clarity and more about finding ways to keep things from getting tedious.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spatial
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Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
Despite the grim proceedings and grubby environment, the spatial arrangement of the image brings to mind a theatre balcony packed with eager punters ready to consume their money’s worth of entertainment.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025
Niantic’s future focus appears to be on enhancing spatial intelligence through large-scale machine learning models, leveraging data collected from its gaming applications to build detailed 3D maps of the world.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
With a film in which the protagonist is largely confined to a cleaning platform, the challenge becomes less about spatial clarity and more about finding ways to keep things from getting tedious.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spatial
Cite this Entry
“Spatial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spatial. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
spatial
adjective
spa·tial
ˈspā-shəl 
1
: relating to, occupying, or having the character of space
affected with spatial disorientation
2
: of or relating to facility in perceiving relations (as of objects) in space
tests of spatial ability
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