rectangular

adjective

rect·​an·​gu·​lar rek-ˈtaŋ-gyə-lər How to pronounce rectangular (audio)
Synonyms of rectangularnext
1
: shaped like a rectangle
a rectangular area
2
a
: crossing, lying, or meeting at a right angle
rectangular axes
b
: having edges, surfaces, or faces that meet at right angles : having faces or surfaces shaped like rectangles
rectangular parallelepipeds
a rectangular solid
rectangularity
(ˌ)rek-ˌtaŋ-gyə-ˈler-ə-tē How to pronounce rectangular (audio)
-ˈla-rə-tē
noun
rectangularly
rek-ˈtaŋ-gyə-lər-lē How to pronounce rectangular (audio)
adverb

Examples of rectangular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Press the dough into an approximately 14 by 4-inch rectangular tart pan with a removable bottom and sprinkle with the sparkling sugar. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 And its over-ear headphones, the Nothing Headphone (1), are designed to turn heads with their rectangular, transparent ear cans. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026 Rue de Verneuil Traversée tote $480 Structured and designed in a rectangular silhouette, this durable linen tote is ideal for travelers heading to warmer locales. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026 Some are large and rectangular, while others are smaller with a more rounded shape. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rectangular

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rectangular was circa 1560

Phrases Containing rectangular

Rhymes for rectangular

See All Rhymes for rectangular

Browse Nearby Words

rectangled
rectangular
rectangular coordinate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rectangular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rectangular. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

rectangular

adjective
rect·​an·​gu·​lar rek-ˈtaŋ-gyə-lər How to pronounce rectangular (audio)
1
: shaped like a rectangle
a rectangular building
2
: having edges, faces, or surfaces that meet at right angles : having faces or surfaces shaped like rectangles
a rectangular solid
rectangular blocks

More from Merriam-Webster on rectangular

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rectangular

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Pyrrhic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All