Definition

The distance of a place north or south of the equator, measured in degrees. It helps to determine the location of a point on the Earth's surface.

Example

The latitude of Paris is approximately 48.8566° N.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about how latitude affects the climate in different places?

Definitely! It's interesting how some regions are so much warmer than others.

Right? I read that areas closer to the equator have a very different latitude than those further north.

Exactly, and it really changes the types of plants and animals that can live there.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Latitude → It is formed from "latus" (meaning wide or broad) and the suffix "-tude" (indicating a state or condition). The word "latitude" refers to the state of being wide or the extent of distance from the equator, measured in degrees.

Memory Tip

Think of 'wide' ('latus') to remember that 'latitude' refers to the distance measured in degrees from the equator, indicating how far north or south you are.

Visually Confused Words