longitude

longitude — noun

1. an angular measurement, given in degrees (°), that shows a location's east-west

1.nounB2
Definition

an angular measurement, given in degrees (°), that shows a location's east-west position on Earth relative to the prime meridian—the imaginary north-south line that passes through Greenwich, England.

Example

The longitude of Tokyo is about 139.7 degrees east.

longitude + of + place

On the map, Iker found the longitude and latitude marked along the edges.

paired with latitude

Common collocations
  • lines of longitude
  • degrees of longitude
  • east/west longitude
  • calculate longitude
  • determine longitude
  • at a longitude of
  • longitude and latitude
  • by longitude
Synonyms
  • meridian

    refers to a specific line of longitude, not the measurement itself

Grammar Patterns

longitude + of + place

at/on + (a) + longitude

Usage Note

Longitude is almost always paired with latitude to give a full position. Always include east (E) or west (W) after the degree value — 35° without E or W is ambiguous.

Common Mistakes

The longitude of Taipei is 25 degrees north.
The latitude of Taipei is 25 degrees north.
longitude measures east-west position, not north-south.
The city is at 120 degrees longitude.
The city is at 120 degrees east longitude (120°E).
always specify east or west to avoid ambiguity.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Longitude and latitude are the two coordinates that together pinpoint any location on Earth. Longitude measures east-west position; latitude measures north-south. A meridian is a specific line of longitude — for example, the prime meridian at 0° runs through Greenwich. While longitude is the general concept (a value in degrees), meridian refers to the physical line on a map. A common learner error is saying "the longitude of a place is north/south" — that belongs to latitude. Both words are B2-level and appear together in geography contexts.

longitude ↗latitude ↗meridian

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • lines of longitude
  • degrees of longitude
  • longitude and latitude
  • at a longitude of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'longitudo' meaning 'length', formed from 'longus' ('long'). The geographic sense developed because longitude measures the east-west 'length' of the Earth, as opposed to latitude, which measures its 'breadth' (from Latin 'latus', 'wide'). The word entered English through French in the 14th century.