azimuth

1 of 2

noun

1
: an arc of the horizon measured between a fixed point (such as true north) and the vertical circle passing through the center of an object usually in astronomy and navigation clockwise from the north point through 360 degrees
2
: horizontal direction expressed as the angular distance between the direction of a fixed point (such as the observer's heading) and the direction of the object

Illustration of azimuth

Illustration of azimuth
  • 1 horizon
  • 2 zenith
  • 3 star
  • 4 meridian
  • 5 vertical circle
  • 6 azimuth
  • 7 observer
: of or relating to azimuth : in azimuth

Examples of azimuth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The azimuth changes minute by minute, varying by as much as 9 degrees during Wednesday’s two-hour window. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 1 Apr. 2026 On June 21, the sun sets at an azimuth of 302 degrees or 32 degrees north of due west. Joe Rao, Space.com, 18 May 2026 The images and damage were then cross-referenced to earlier satellite images taken from the same look angle and azimuth for confirmation. Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025 As well as reporting the azimuth (horizontal angle), elevation, and range of an object like a lidar does, radars can also detect its relative velocity, because the frequency of returning signals are Doppler-shifted. IEEE Spectrum, 16 Mar. 2020 See All Example Sentences for azimuth

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Medieval Latin azimut, from Arabic al-sumūt the azimuth, plural of al-samt the way

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of azimuth was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Azimuth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/azimuth. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

: horizontal direction of an object from a fixed point expressed as an angle

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