What does "declination" mean?
At a given point, the angle between magnetic north and true north.
Declination
/ˌdɛklɪˈneɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: At a given point, the angle between magnetic north and true north.
- Grammar: declination is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: celestial latitude, declension, aberrancy, aberration.
- Useful contrasts: uninflected form.
- Usage evidence: the queen's declination from marriage
How to use "declination"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "declination" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "declination" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "declination" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "declination" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "declination" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "celestial latitude" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "declination", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 At a given point, the angle between magnetic north and true north. countable, uncountable
- 2 a polite refusal of an invitation wordnet
- 3 At a given point, the angle between the line connecting this point with the geographical center of the earth and the equatorial plane. countable, uncountable
- 4 (astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial body north or to the south of the celestial equator; expressed in degrees; used with right ascension to specify positions on the celestial sphere wordnet
- 5 A refusal. countable, uncountable
"the queen's declination from marriage"
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 a downward slope or bend wordnet
- 7 The gradual decline in the overall fundamental frequency or pitch of speech over the course of an utterance, independent of local variations such as tones and pitch accents. countable, uncountable
- 8 a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state; decline wordnet
- 9 Declension. countable, obsolete, uncountable
- 10 The act or state of bending downward; inclination. archaic, countable, uncountable
"declination of the head"
- 11 The act or state of falling off or declining from excellence or perfection; deterioration; decay; decline. archaic, countable, uncountable
"the declination of monarchy"
- 12 Deviation. archaic, countable, uncountable
"this declination of atoms in their descent"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
uninflected form
Example
"the queen's declination from marriage"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "declination"?
Common synonyms include: celestial latitude, declension, aberrancy, aberration, abjuration, abjurement.
How do you use "declination" in a sentence?
the queen's declination from marriage
How do you pronounce "declination"?
Pronounced /ˌdɛklɪˈneɪʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle English declinacioun, borrowed from Middle French declination, from Latin declinatio. Doublet of declension.