meridian: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal; Technical
Quick answer
What does “meridian” mean?
An imaginary line around the Earth, passing through the North and South Poles, used for mapping locations and measuring longitude.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An imaginary line around the Earth, passing through the North and South Poles, used for mapping locations and measuring longitude.
A line of highest development, culmination, or point of greatest intensity; a period of peak success or energy, often in a person's life. Also used historically for lines drawn on globes and maps.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and frequency are largely identical, with both preferring the spelling 'meridian'.
Connotations
Both share the primary geographical and figurative meanings. UK usage may be slightly more common in formal, literary contexts referring to a 'prime' or 'peak'.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English in technical cartographic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “meridian” in a Sentence
the [Adjective] meridian of [Noun (e.g., longitude, life, success)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meridian” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No common verb form in use)
American English
- (No common verb form in use)
adverb
British English
- (No common adverb form in use)
American English
- (No common adverb form in use)
adjective
British English
- The meridian line was clearly marked on the old naval chart.
- He was enjoying his meridian years of influence.
American English
- The map showed the meridian arc in detail.
- Her meridian achievement came with the Nobel Prize.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The company has passed its meridian and must now innovate to survive.'
Academic
Frequent in geography, astronomy, and history: 'The study plotted the ancient meridian used by the civilisation.'
Everyday
Rare; most commonly in historical fiction or educational contexts about maps and time zones.
Technical
Precise in cartography, navigation, and geodesy: 'The satellite's orbit was calibrated relative to the Greenwich Meridian.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meridian”
- Spelling as 'meridien' (French influence).
- Confusing 'meridian' (north-south) with 'parallel' (east-west).
- Using 'meridian' to mean 'average' or 'median' instead of 'peak'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are the same line. The Prime Meridian (0° longitude) passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, hence it is also called the Greenwich Meridian.
No. While its core meaning is geographical, it is frequently used figuratively to mean the peak or zenith of something, such as 'the meridian of her career'.
Not very common. It is primarily used in technical, geographical, historical, or formal/literary contexts. Most people encounter it in school geography or when discussing time zones.
Etymologically, they share a Latin root ('medius' meaning middle). However, in modern usage, they are distinct words: 'meridian' relates to a line or peak, 'median' to a middle value, and 'medium' to an intermediate size or a means of communication.
An imaginary line around the Earth, passing through the North and South Poles, used for mapping locations and measuring longitude.
Meridian is usually formal; technical in register.
Meridian: in British English it is pronounced /məˈrɪd.i.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈrɪd.i.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pass one's meridian (to be past one's peak)”
- “at the meridian of one's powers (at the height of one's ability)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MERI-dian' containing 'mid' – it's about the midday line (the sun at its highest point on the meridian) and lines that run through the middle of the Earth from pole to pole.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY THROUGH TIMEZONES / A DAY: 'The meridian of his career' maps the peak of a life onto the highest point of the sun's daily arc.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT a meaning of 'meridian'?