What does "orthogonal" mean?
An orthogonal line.
Orthogonal
/ɔːˈθɒɡ.ə.nəl/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An orthogonal line.
- Grammar: orthogonal is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: cube-shaped, cubed, cubic, cubical.
- Useful contrasts: aslant, correlated, coupled.
- Usage evidence: An orthogonal pair of polarized filters put together will block all light, but put a third one between them at a diagonal angle and some light will pass through.
How to use "orthogonal"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "orthogonal" 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 "orthogonal" 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 "orthogonal" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "orthogonal" 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 "orthogonal" is acting as adj, 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 "cube-shaped" 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 "orthogonal", 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 An orthogonal line.
"All of the orthogonals in this painting display an understanding of linear perspective."
Adjective
- 1 Of two objects, at right angles; perpendicular to each other. not-comparable
"A chord and the radius that bisects it are orthogonal."
- 2 Of a pair of vectors: having a zero inner product; perpendicular. not-comparable
"The normal vector and tangent vector at a given point are orthogonal."
- 3 Of a square matrix: such that its transpose is equal to its inverse. not-comparable
- 4 Of a linear transformation: preserving its angles. not-comparable
- 5 Of grid graphs, board games and polyominoes: vertical or horizontal but not diagonal. not-comparable
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 Of a pair of elements in an ortholattice: each less than or equal to the orthocomplement of the other. not-comparable
- 7 Statistically independent, with reference to variates. not-comparable
- 8 Of two or more aspects of a problem, able to be treated separately; of a design, exhibiting consistency and composability. not-comparable
"The content of the message should be orthogonal to the means of its delivery."
- 9 Of two or more problems or subjects, independent of or irrelevant to each other. not-comparable
"Even in a geostate, some people are willing to fight and die for their views, but the institutional change to a polystate seems somewhat orthogonal to such issues."
Adjective
- 1 having a set of mutually perpendicular axes; meeting at right angles wordnet
- 2 statistically unrelated wordnet
- 3 not pertinent to the matter under consideration wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"An orthogonal pair of polarized filters put together will block all light, but put a third one between them at a diagonal angle and some light will pass through."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "orthogonal"?
Common synonyms include: cube-shaped, cubed, cubic, cubical, cubiform, cuboid.
How do you use "orthogonal" in a sentence?
An orthogonal pair of polarized filters put together will block all light, but put a third one between them at a diagonal angle and some light will pass through.
How do you pronounce "orthogonal"?
Pronounced /ɔːˈθɒɡ.ə.nəl/.
Etymology
From Middle French orthogonal, in turn from Medieval Latin orthogōnālis and Latin orthogōnius (“right-angled”), ultimately from Ancient Greek ὀρθογώνιος (orthogṓnios, “rectangular”). By surface analysis, ortho- + -gon + -al.