What does "sextant" mean?
A navigational device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to determine latitude and longitude.
Sextant
/ˈsɛk.stənt/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A navigational device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to determine latitude and longitude.
- Grammar: sextant is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: angle instrument, astrolabe, astronavigation, azimuth circle.
- Usage evidence: Over a 20 year period of time, Tycho Brahe made consistent observations which supported the heliocentric theory proposed earlier by Copernicus. These observations were made using only a compass and a sextant.
How to use "sextant"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "sextant" 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 "sextant" 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 "sextant" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "sextant" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "sextant" is acting as name, 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 "angle instrument" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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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 A navigational device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to determine latitude and longitude.
"[…] I can do more with a Quadrant, Sextant or Octant, of 1 foot Radius, furniſhed with Teleſcopical Sights and Screws, then ^([sic]) can poſſibly be done with any other Inſtrument, furniſhed only with Common Sights, though 10, 20, 30, nay threeſcore foot Radius; […]"
- 2 a measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octant wordnet
- 3 One sixth of a circle or disc; a sector with an angle of 60°.
- 4 a unit of angular distance equal to 60 degrees wordnet
- 5 One of six groups of adjacent teeth, excluding the wisdom teeth.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A radial cell division of segments in three series, a sixth part of the original.
Proper Noun
- 1 The constellation Sextans.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Over a 20 year period of time, Tycho Brahe made consistent observations which supported the heliocentric theory proposed earlier by Copernicus. These observations were made using only a compass and a sextant."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "sextant"?
Common synonyms include: angle instrument, astrolabe, astronavigation, azimuth circle, azimuth compass, bevel.
How do you use "sextant" in a sentence?
Over a 20 year period of time, Tycho Brahe made consistent observations which supported the heliocentric theory proposed earlier by Copernicus. These observations were made using only a compass and a sextant.
How do you pronounce "sextant"?
Pronounced /ˈsɛk.stənt/.
Etymology
From Latin sextāns.